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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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HALF HOl'RS WITH THE BIBLE; 



The Children s Scriphtre Story-Book. 

AN EPITOME OF THE HISTORIES 

C () XT A I X E I) I X 

THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, 

SOU'LIFIED FOE THE USE OF CHILDREN. 

BY THE AUTHOR OF " HAPPY SUNDAYS." 

M\\\ abflljr MO |lIugtratilrB (jtugrabiiigs. \ 



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NEW YORK: 

MCLOUGHLIN BROTHERS. 



\ 



CONTENTS 



PAGP. 



I. The Creation of the World and the Deluge .... .... g 



41 



2. Stories. OF Abraham. Lsaac, and Jacob .... .... 

3. JOSEPH AND HL^ I^RETHREN .... .... .... .... ^^ 

4. J'he Hlstorv of Moses .\nd of tfjf \\'.\NDERiN(is of the Child- 

Ri-N OF Israel in the Desert .... ... .... 105 

5. The JnxiEs and Mkjhty Men of (Jld .... .... .... 137 

6. The Kinijs of Israel and Jidah .... .... .... 169 

7. The Prophets .... .... ... .... .... 201 

8 The Good Children of Scripture .... .... .... 233 

9. The Life of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. ... .... .... 265 

10. Our Saviours Teachings and Sufferings .... .... 297 

[ I. The Story of the Apostles .... .... ....329 



i ' 



PREFACE 



The object of the Author of this little book has been to tell, in piaiii, 
siiuple words that may be readily understood by children, the mighty his- 
rories contained in the Sacred Yohnne. 

It will be seen that the work has been carefully divided into sections of 
equal length, each embracing a separate portion oi the Bible, and complete 
in itself. Thus, the first part contains the History of the Creation, the 
Fall of Man, and the subsequent events until the time of the Deluge ; the 
second part is devoted to the History of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, 
and Jacob ; the third, tc the History of Joseph and his brethren ; the 
fourth, to the History of Moses and the Wanderings of the Cliildren of 
Israel, until the time of their great leader's death. And thus the history 
proceeds through the times (^f the Judges, tlie Kings, and the Prophets ; 
just so much being given as a child may understand and remember, and 
the whole being divided, like the commencement of the l^ook, into short 
sections, to prevent confusion. The three last })arts are devoted to the 
narration of the Life of Our Saviour and of the Apostles. 

As the book purposes to give to children an elementary knowledge of 
the narrative portion of the Scriptures, care has been taken to tell the 
stories as much as i)ossil)le in the " Bible words." A few sentences of 
explanation or of comment have been sparingly introduced — the Author 



\1U 



PREFACE, 



having, in the great majority of cases, thought it best simply to narrate 
the histories as intelligibly as possible, leaving them to make their own 
unfailing impression on the minds of the young readers. 
' Thus, then, this little volume is addressed to no special sect or denom- 
ination. It has not been prepared with any particular reference to the 
evangelical, the high church, or the dissenting part of the community. 
Free from all sectarian doctrine, and holding aloof from the exclusive 
tenets of any particular sect, it aims at being emphatically a Child's His' 
tory of the Bible. Therefore it is broadly offered to all that great and 
happily increasing class who read and value the Sacred Book, and wish 
their children to read and value it also. Therefore, the histories have 
been presented in all their touching simplicity — therefore the Bible icordu 
have, so far as possible, been retained. 

It has been the wish of the Publishers to increase the attractions of the 
volume by care in the production of the work, so far as paper and print 
are concerned, and by a plentiful supply of those "pictures" in which all 
children deli<j:lit. 

The Author commends this Book, the result of many hours of pleasant 
labor, to the parents, and yet more to the children of Christendom ; and a 
careful perusal, undertaken at the request of the Publishers, has convinced 
me that the taSk has been well and conscientiously fulfilled. 

H. W. D. 



(ilf p0urs luitlj t|c ^iblc. 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE, 



^-<^ 




CHAPTER I. 

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD 



\:rM 



HE Bible is that large book from which 
the minister reads in church ev^ery Sun- 
day. It tells us of the doings of the 
great God who made Heaven and Earth ; 
and from it we learn to love and to 
serve Him. The word Bible means *'The 
Book." The Bible was written at differ- 
ent times by wise and good men, who set down the words 
that God put into their minds ; so that the Bible is the 
written word of God Himself That is why the Bible is 
called the Book of Books ; and its words are the woi'ds of 
truth. There was not always a Bible, to teach us about 



10 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



God ; but there was always a God. He had no beginning, 
but always was, and is, and shall be, after this world has 
passed away. He it was who made us, who created this 
beautiful world, and all that it contains. It was God w^ho 
put it into the minds of good men to write down in this 
holy Book, called the Bible, all the wondrous things of His 
law. And, as the Bible tells us of God, and teaches us His 
will, therefore every one should strive to learn to read this 
good Book ; and there is such a wonderful amount of wis- 
dom and goodness in it, that the smallest child may read 
parts of it with delight and wonder. God loves little child- 
ren, and never forgets or forsakes them. There are, how. 
ever, many things in this Sacred Volume which you could 
not understand; and, therefore, it is very pleasant to be 
told, in easy words, what wonderful things God has done. 
This, my dear children, is what I wish to do for you in this 
little book of Bible Stories and Pictures ; and I am sure it 
will make you long for the time when you may read the 
Great Book for yourselves. 

The Bible tells us that in the beginning God created 
the heaven and the earth. He created them ; that means, 
he made them out of nothing. There was no shajje, nor 
form, only thick darkness, until " the Spirit of God moved 
upon the face of the waters." God said. Let there be 
light ; and there was light. 

Is it not wonderful that the word of God should at 
once change darkness into light ? And how beautiful is 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



11 




THE SEPARATION OK THE WATERS. 



light ! Darkness is very mournful. Many little children 
are afraid of being left in the dark, although there is noth- 
ing that would hurt them in the dark any more than in 
the light, because God can see in the dark as well as by 
day, and can take care of us. Yet light is a great blessing, 
and we ought to thank God for it. 

" And God saw the light that it was good : and God 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



divided the liglit from the darkness." The light He called 
Day, and the darkness He called Mght. " And the even- 
ing and the morning were the first day." In six days God 
made the earth ; and on the second day He made the firma- 
ment, and divided the waters which were under the firma- 
ment from the waters which were above the firmament. 
On the third day God separated the land from the waters, 
and gathered the waters together upon an heap, calling 
them Seas ; while the dry land He called Earth. And at 
His word the earth brought forth grass, herbs, and trees 
of all kinds. On the fourth day God created the greater 
light, that is, the sun, to rule the day, and the lesser light, 
or moon, to rule the night; and He made the stars also. 

" First, He made the sun to know 
His proper hour to rise ; 
And to give light to all below, 
Bid send him round the skies/' 

And since that day, obedient to God's command, the sun 
has risen every morning, and set every evening; and so 
long as God commands, and no longer, will the sun con- 
tinue to blaze in the sky. 

The moon, too, with her soft, silvery light, God created, 
to shine while we are asleep ; and the pretty twinkling 
stars did God set in the firmament, to shed light upon the 
earth. Then God commanded the waters to bring forth 
abundantly every kind of fish, and fowl that may fly above 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



18 



the earth. Fishes of all kinds, from the great whale, that 
taketh his pastime in the wide ocean, to the little minnow 




that sports in the shallowest stream ; — from the ostrich to 
the little wren that builds her nest in an old thornbush. 
God also bade the earth to bring forth cattle, creeping 
things, and beasts of all kinds ; and there, side by side, 
might be seen the great elephant, the useful ox, the timid 
hare, and the gliding, harmless worm. This w^as the work 
of the fifth day, and God saw that it was good. 



14 



HALF HOURS AVITH THE BIBLE. 



So now, God had created the world ; l)ut the greatest and 
most wonderful of created beings had not yet been made. 
The earth was there, and the ocean ; both full of living 




creatures, and gay with growing plants and grasses. The 
streams were flowing, and the birds singing, and the fishes 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ]5 

glancing through the waters, and the great beasts stalking 
forth over the face of the green earth, and all the little 
insects sporting in the sunshine ; all was ready for the 
reception of him whom God had determined to make the 
king of this beautiful creation — and this wondrous being 
was man. 

And the sixth day of creation had come : and God 
said, " Let us make man in our own image, after our like- 
ness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over 
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth 
upon the earth." So God created man out of the dust of 
the earth, in His own image created He him. And God 
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man be- 
came a living soul. And God bade him be fruitful and 
multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it ; and He gave 
him dominion over every living thing that moveth upon 
the earth. And God said, " Behold, I have given you 
every herb," and " every tree yielding fruit, to you it shall 
be for meat." And to the beast, to the fowls, and all other 
living creatures God gave every green herb for meat. 

And thus, day after day, God still provides us with all 
things necessary for our support: and He it is who, by 
His Son Jesus Christ, has Himself taught us to say, '' Give 
us this day our daily bread." He it is who makes the corn 
to grow, and to ripen, that we may be supplied with daily 
food. 



IG 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



When God had created the heavens, and the earth, and 
all the host of them. He finished His work and rested 
upon the seventh day; and He blessed the seventh day, 
and sanctified it, or made it holy, because in it He rested 
from all His work that He had created, or made. Where- 
fore, God afterwards gave a command to His favored peo- 
ple, the Jews, saying, "Remember that thou keep holy 
the Sabbath day." And, therefore, to the present time, in 
all lands where God is known, and the Bible, His word, is 
read, one day out of every seven is set apart and kept 
holy, as a remembrance that God rested on the seventh 
day from His work, after the creation of the world. 

And God looked down from heaven on everything that 
He had made ; and behold, it was very good. 



THE CREATION OP THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ]7 




ADAM NAMING THR BEASTS. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE. 

HE Bible next tells us about the Garden of Eden, 
and liow the man whom God had created was sent 
to live there. First of all, now that the herbs and 
trees were growing, God caused a mist to go up from 
the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 




1 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



And God then planted a fair and a fruitful garden in 
Eden, and watered it witli beautiful rivers and cooling 
streams, and placed man in the garden to keep it and to 
dress it. This man was called Adam. He w^as formed 
after God's image, perfectly holy and perfectly happy, free 
from care and free from sin. 

Although God had made him lord over all things that 
He had created, yet, among all these things, none was found 
that was fit to be a companion for Adam. So the Lord God 
said : " It is not good that the man should be alone; I will 
make him an help meet for him." And God brought every 
living thing to Adam, to see what name Adam would call 
them ; and w^hatsoever Adam called every living creature 
was henceforth the name thereof God caused Adam to 
fall into a deep sleep ; and, while he slept, God took from 
Adam's side one of his ribs, and of the man's rib God foi'in- 
ed a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam 
called her woman ; and she became the wdfe of Adam, and 
the mother of all living, w^hich her name, Mje^ signifies. 

When the Lord God placed man in the lovely and 
pleasant garden of Eden, He gave Adam leave to eat of 
the fruit of every tree except one, which God told him 
was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and of this 
tree God forbade Adam to eat ; and God told him plainly^ 
that if he ate of the fruit of this tree, he should surely die; 
and as Adam had everything that w^as needful for his use, 
there was no reason why he should want this fruit. 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. ., ^ 

Adam and Eve miglit have continued holy and happy 
for ever, for their life was bright, and innocent, and blessed 
in the beautiful garden, with the smile of God upon them ; 
but there came a wicked spirit, called Satan, who is the 
father of lies, and of all evil. He was envious when he 
saw the man and his wife so happy; so he came in the form 
of a serpent, and talked with Eve, and persuaded her to 
eat of the forbidden fruit. The woman told the serpent 
that God had threatened them with death if they ate of 
the fruit of that tree; but the wily serpent answered, "Ye 
shall not surely die : for God doth know that in the day 
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall 
be as gods, knowing good and evil." See how wily the 
serpent was ; he knew that the prospect of great know- 
ledge, and of being as a god, would allure Eve. 

And it was so. She listened to the tempter. Instead 
of being contented in the happy state in which God had 
placed her, she became covetous. She wanted to be wiser 
and greater than she was. She took the fruit of the tree 
which God had forbidden her to eat, and she gave her hus- 
band some of the fruit, and he ate also. 

When they had done this, they felt afraid. The know- 
ledge that came to them was the knowledge that they 
themselves were no longer good and innocent; and they 
feared to meet the eye of God. They sewed large ^g 
leaves together to make themselves a covering. And when 

they heard the voice of the Lord in the garden, in the cool 

11 



20 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



of the day, fearful to meet Him, as they well might be 
they vainly endeavored to hide themselves among the trees 




ADAM AND EVE EATING THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT. 

And God called to Adam: "Where art thou?" And 
Adam answered, that he had hidden himself, because he 
was afraid. God knew perfectly well what they had done ; 
but He asked Adam if he had eaten of the forbidden 
fruit ? And Adam was cowardly, and answered, that the 
woman had given him the fruit ; foi* he would gladly have 
laid the whole blame upon Eve. 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



21 



And when God asked Eve, why she had done this, she 
answered, that the serpent had beguiled her. Then God 
pronounced the sentence of punishment upon them all. He 
cursed the serpent above every beast of the field, and told 
him he should always crawl upon the eartl]. The woman 




ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN FROM THE GARDEN OF EDKN. 

he condemned to a life of sorrow and pain. And to Adam 
God said, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 
till thou return unto the ground ; for out of it wast thou 
taken, and unto dust thou shalt return." 

13 



99 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



So God sent forth Adam and Eve from tlie garden of 
Eden ; and God placed at the east end of the garden cheru- 
bims, or angels of fire, with a flaming sword, which turned 
every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. So they 
were never again permitted to enter the lovely garden, but 
they were obliged to work hard and till the ground, and 
to plant and sow, and dig up the thistles, until the time 
should come for them to die, and return to the dust. 



CHAPTER III 



CAIN AND ABEL. 

FTEE, our fii'st parents had been driven 
out of the pleasant garden of Eden, God 
gave a little son to Eve, who called his 
name Cain. Afterwards she had a second 
son, named Abel. God had said to x\dam 
that man should eat bread in the sweat of 
his brow — that is, that he should earn his 
food by labor. So both these sons were 
brought up to work; — and this was right; 
for it is God's Avill that every one should work in some 
way, and it is a great sin to be idle. Even the rich people, 
who need not till the ground for their bread, should find 
something useful to do for God, or for their neighbors. 




THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



23 




ADAM AND EVE AT WOHK. 



JSTot even a little child should be idle. Children should be 
learning, while they are young, how to employ their time, 
so that they may spend it usefully when they grow older. 
Cain used to till the ground and sow the seed, that there 
might be plenty of food. He was what we call a husband- 
man. A bel took care of a flock of sheep. He was what we 
now call a shepherd. I dare say you know who said, '' I 
am the good She2:)herd, and know my sheep, and am known 
of mine." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd, 



15 



24 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



and those cliilclren who strive to please Him, and learn to 
love Him as sheep love their shepherd, are those He means 
when He talks of His lambs. 




CAIN KILLING ABEL. 



Now, God had commanded his servants to offer up a 
sacrifice to Him of the *' first-fruits ; " that is, something of 
the very best they had. But He not only required these 
offerings, but He wished them to be given to Him with a 
free heart, and a willing, humble spirit. Cain brought an 
offering to the Lord, of the first-fruits of the ground, and 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



OK 



Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock ; and the Lord 
had respect unto Abel and his offering; that is to say, He 
• looked upon them with favor, for He knew Abel offered 
with a thankful spirit. But unto Cain and to his offering 
He had not respect. See how the smoke of Abel's lamb 
ascends steadily up to heaven, while that of Cain is beaten 
down to the earth. 

God read the wicked thoughts that were in Cain's heart, 
and saw that he was envious and jealous of his good and 
gentle brother : and when Cain found that the Lord had 
accepted the offering of his brother, and not his own, he 
became still more angry. And when they were both 
together in the field, he rose up against his brother and 
slew him ! 



Adam and Eve were sorry for their own sin and diso- 
bedience, when they saw tha^ Deatl\ the punishment w4th 
which they had been threatened, had really come upon 
their young and cherished son. He was dead, and he had 
been killed by the act of Cain : and the punishment of their 
own sin and disobedience was falling heavily upon them. 
But God, who sees and knows all things, saw this wicked 
deed ; and He called unto Cain, and said, " Where is Abel 
thy brother ? " Cain knew not how to answer ; the cow- 
ardly, guilty man replied by a lie. He said, "I know 
not: am I my brother's keeper?" Then the Lord said. 



26 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



" What hast thou done ? the voice of thy brother's blood 
crieth unto me from the gi'ound." And God told Cain 
that a fearful punishment should befall him for his dread- 
ful crime. He said, " When thou tillest the ground, it 
shall no more yield unto thee strength," or increase. And 
Cain was to be a wanderer and an outcast on the earth. 
And when Cain heard the words of the Lord, and found 
that he must leave his parents, and be driven out as a vag- 
abond, h^ said, "My punishment is greater than I can 
bear." So God drove him away from his parents, and he 
dwelt in a distant part of the earth ; where we hear that 
he built a city, and that sons and daughters were boi'n 
unto him, But the remembrance of Cain's crime has never 
passed away, for it has been wiitten by God's servants, in 
God's own Book ; and, as long as this world lasts, Cain 
Avill be spoken of as the unhappy man who killed his bro- 
ther in his anger. 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



27 



CHAPTER IV 




THE FLOOD. 

FTER the death of Abel, God comforted 
Adam and Eve by giving them a son, named 
Seth. And, in time, Seth grew to l,e a man, 
and had sons and daughters of his own. One 
of his descendants was named Enocli. Of 
Enoch, we have an account in the Bible. 
We are told that he was a good man, and 
walked with God — that is, he obeyed His commands. So 
God took him up into heaven without dying. What a 
difference between his fate and that of Cain ! 

Enoch's son, Methuselah, was the oldest man that ever 
lived on the earth. He was nearly a thousand years old 
when he died. After this time, the people who lived in 
those days became very wicked, and their conduct displeas- 
ed the Lord so much, that He repented that He had made 
man. And at length He determined to destroy them .oil 
by a great flood. There was, however, a good man called 
Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And God 
commanded Noah to build him an ark of gopher wood; 
and told him how long and how broad it was to be, and 
how to build it, that Noah and his family might l)e safe, 
when God should send the flood of waters to drown the 
world. 

19 



28 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



A very wonderful building was the ark which God 
commanded Noah to build for the safety of himself and 
family, and all the living creatures that God intended to 
save alive : two of every kind, as you see them going into 
the ark. Noah had nothing to do but to obey God's direc- 
tions, and he did so. He began at once to collect proper 
materials ; and for a hundred years he was preaching to 
his neighbors and friends, begging them to turn from their 
sin, and help him to prepare the ark that was to save the 
righteous from destruction. But no one would listen ; they 
only laughed at Noah for his folly, when he told them that 
God had said, " I will bring a flood of waters upon the 
earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from 
under heaven ; and every thing that is in the earth shall 
die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou 
shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, 
and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing 
of all flesh, two of eveiy sort shalt thou bring into the 
ark, to keep them alive with thee ; they shall be male and 
female." Of fowls also, and cattle, and every creeping 
thing, two of every sort, did God order Noah to take with 
him into the ark, and to take some of every kind of food 
that was necessary for them all to eat, to gather together 
a large portion to place in the ark. How mercifully God 
still showed his love and care of those creatures whom He 
intended to spare; providing for all their necessities, and 
giving them light, and air, and pleasant food I 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



29 




NOAH PRAYING, BEFORE ENTERING THE ARK. 



Sucli was the refuge God provided for His servant 
Noali and liis family ; and He has shown similar mercy to 
the whole of mankind. For God has provided another 
ark, or place of safety, for lost and ruined sinners ; and 
when God looks down now from His holy dwelling-place 
in heaven. He can see that even the very thoughts of men's 
hearts are desperately wicked ; and, therefore. He has pro- 
vided an ark for these perishing souls to flee to. Do you 
know what that ark is called? It is the Holy Saviour 



21 



30 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Jesus Christ; the only offerng which the world could pro- 
duce to appease the just anger of an offended God. He 
provided the ark ; and the same love provided the Saviour, 
the ark of our strength — the refuge from the stoi-m of 
trouble and the flood of sin. He has in Himself all things 
necessary for our support and salvation, just as the ark 
contained all ^hat was necessary for Noah and his family. 

Many years was the ark building. Long it stood open, 
while Noah vainly tried to pei'suade the hardened sinners 
to enter the door. So Christ is always ready, always at 
hand to save ; he stands waiting, he is willing and able to 
save all who will go unto him. Like a tender father, God 
said to Noah, when all was ready, " Come thou and all thy 
house into the ark ; for thee have I seen righteous before 
me." So Noah obeyed, as a child should obey the voice 
of his parent; and he made all the animals that he had 
collected together to enter two and two into the ark, 
and then he went in, with all the members of his family ; 
and God shut them in. 

And then God in his anger rained down rain from 
heaven, and the waters of the sea overflowed and spread 
over the earth, till by degrees the houses, the trees, and 
even the tops of the highest mountains, were covered with 
deep water. The rain lasted for forty days and forty 
nights, and the whole world was like a tempestuous sea, 
which washed away every living thing. Even the birds 
of the air were drowned, for there was nothing left on 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



31 




THE GRKAT FLOOD OF WATERS. 



which they might rest the soles of their feet ; and when 
the rain ceased to fall, it was many days and weeks before 
the w^aters dried away from the face of the earth. Only 
Noah and his family were safe in the ark which God had 
provided for them. 

At length the rain ceased, the waters abated, and the 
ark rested on the top of a mountain called Ararat ; and 
Noah opened the window. There was still nothing but a 
waste of waters : no green trees or flowers, no living crea- 



23 



32 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



ture to be seen. But Noah sent out of the ark a raven and a 
dove. Tlie raven flew backwards and forvvarcTs, and at last 
disappeared. Perliaps some of the dead bodies of the 
animals had floated up to the top of the mountain, and they 
would provide food for the raven, which is a bird of prey ; 
but the poor dove could find no rest for the sole of her foot, 
so she returned to the ark, and Noah put out his hand 
and took her in to him agiiin. 

Seven days after, Noah sent the dove out again ; in the 
evening she returned to him with an olive leaf in her beak. 
You may be sure Noah and his sons were glad to see this 
green leaf. They knew that the tops of the trees were 
again visible, and that the waters were abating. But they 
knew the earth was still under water, because the dove 
was unable to find food and shelter; and thei'efore they 
waited patiently, and thanked God for his mercy in giving 
them a roof to cover them, and food to sustain life. 

The dove was sent out once again ; but she returned no 
more. Then Noah knew that the earth was getting dry. 
He took the covering off the ark, and felt very glad to look 
upon the green trees ; but, although they had been shut 
up in the ark for more than a year, and although the earth 
looked dry and pleasant, Noah did not wish to go out of 
the ark until God told him he might do so. But •' God 
spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and 
thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 
Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, 



' I 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 






of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creep- 
ing thing that creepeth upon the earth ; that they may 
breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multi- 
ply upon the earth." 

'' And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and 
his sons' wives with him ; — every beast, every creeping 
thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the 
earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark." 

And so God's justice and God's mercy had both been 
shown: His justice in the great deluge, and His mercy i)) 
the preservation of Noah and his family. 




I ! 



34 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER V. 

noah's sacrifice, and the rainbow. 

.HE first thing Noali did when they were all 
come out of the ark was to build an altar 
unto the Lord ; and he took one of every 
clean beast and every clean fowl, and offered 
them as burnt offerings upon the altar. Was 
it not right to Noah to show his gratitude to 
the good God who had preserved him and his 
family from a dreadful death? And ought 
we not also to love Him who preserves us and 
gives us so many blessings ? Noah thought of heaven and 
of God's mercy to him and his family, while he offered his 
burnt sacrifices, and the perfume of these offerings went 
up to heaven. " And the Lord said in his heart, I will not 
again curse the ground any more for man's sake ; for the 
imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth ; neither 
will I again smite any more every thing living as I have 
done. While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, 
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and 
night shall not cease." 

And God's promises never fail : although thousands of 
years have passed away, still the seasons follow in succes- 
sion. The sun shines by day, and the bright stars twinkle 
in the dark blue sky at night, as they did when God made 
his covenant with Noah. 

20 



I 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



35 




noah's sacrifice. 
" And God said, This is the token of the covenant 
which I make between me and you and every living crea- 
ture that is with you, for perpetual generations ; I do set 
my how in the cloud, and it shall he for a token of a cove- 
nant between me and the earth. And it shall come to 
pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow 
shall be seen in the cloud : and I will remember my cove- 
nant, which is between me and you and every living crea- 
ture of all flesh ; and the waters shall no more become a 



36 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



flood to destroy all flesli. And the bow shall be in the 
cloud ; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the 
everlasting covenant between God and every living crea- 
ture of all flesh that is upon the earth." 

How often have my little readers beheld this token of 
God's mercy and forbearance — the beautiful rainbow, span- 
ning the sky like an arch, and brightening the dark clouds 
with its soft and lovely tints of vai'ious colors ! When- 
ever you see this pretty bow, look at it well, and think 
that God has placed that rainbow in the heavens to remind 
you and all the world that He is faithful and gracious ; and 
that Jesus, who is far more lovely than the rainbow, sits 
upon a throne encircled with a rainbow ; and that, although 
we cannot see him, he is there ; and let the storm be ever 
so violent, his protecting hand is stretched out to save 
those that love and trust in him. 

When Noah and his sons had sacrificed to God, they 
went away ♦ into different places, and made themselves 
homes, and God gave them many children, so that the 
earth was soon full of people again ; and they cultivated 
their lands, and planted vineyards and fruit trees. And 
God blessed Shem and Japheth, because they were dutiful 
to their father ; and he blessed Noah, and lengthened his 
life three hundred and fifty years after the flood. The 
Bible gives us the names of the grandsons and great grand- 
sons of this good man. 



THE CREATION OP THE WORLD AND THE DELUCIE. 



37 



CHAPTER YI. 




THE TOWER OF BABEL. 

"^i-LOR many years after the deluge all the people 
"^^ in the world spoke but one language ; but as 
they, by degrees, forgot God's mercy to their 
forefathers in saving them from the flood, they 
became proud and self-willed, and at last they 
determined to build a tower that would reach 
unto heaven. Nimrod, their leader, had built 
a large city, called Babel ; and then they want- 
ed a tower. 

But these people well knew they were wrong; their 
consciences told them that their conduct was displeasing 
to God, and that they knew they deserved to be punished ; 
and their own words prove that they felt afraid of God's 
just anger, for they said — " A tower, whose top may reach 
unto heaven ; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of 
the earth." Now, if they had loved and trusted in God, 
they would have been happy and contented ; but, instead 
of that, they were in fear of some unseen, but not undeserv- 
ed calamity, and tried to set themselves up against God. 
They thought if they could build a tower whose top should 
reach to heaven, they could escape, if another flood came 
upon the earth, by climbing up to the top. They cared 
not about going to heaven by the narrow path of faith, 

29 



38 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




BUILDING OF TfiE TOWER OF BABEL. 



and honesty, and self-denial; no, they must make then^ 
selves bricks, and burn them thoroughly. They found out 
a means of mixing clay and straw, and moulding them into 
bricks, which they burned till they were hard, and they 
used a kind of slime for mortar ; and, in order to make 
themselves a great name, they worked hard, piling up their 
bricks and mortar story above story, hoping to get out 
of the reach of God's judgments ; forgetting that God was 



THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND THE DELUGE. 



30 



above all, and could see all they did and planned, and 
even their very thoughts. The Lord let them go on for 
some time in their boastfulness and pride. 

Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tow- 
er, which the children of men builded. And the Lord 
saidy " Behold the people is one, and they have all one 
language ; and this they begin to do : and now nothing 
will be restrained from them, which thev have imaHued 
to do.'' And God said, " Let us confound their language, 
that they may not understand one another's speech." All 
at once they began to call things by diffei-ent names. They 
could no longer call each other by their names. One was 
speaking in one tongue, another in a different language. 
None could understand, nor could others reply ; so they 
wei'e obliged to leave off building; the work on which they 
prided themselves so much was left unfinished ; their names 
are forgotten ; and the story of their great undertaking is 
only told to their shame. 

Truly God He is the judge, and He only suffers what 
He will to be executed ; and, to show us this truth. He has 
ordained that the errors, the sin, and the punishment of 
our forefathers should be wncten in the Holy Bible, as a 
guide and warning to all who shall come after. And, while 
we pride ourselves upon our learning, upon our being able 
to s])eak and understand the language of other countj-ies, 
let us remember that sin occasioned the first differences in 
our tongue and speech ; that God in his anger said, " Let 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



US confound their language, that they may not understand 
one another's speech : and the Lord scattered them abroad 
upon the face of all the earth ; " wherefore the name of 
that city and tower is called Babel (which means confu- 
sion) ; " because the Lord did there confound the language 
of the earth : and from thence did the Lord scatter them 
abroad upon the face of the earth." 

More than once God changed the language of people 
in one moment. The first time He did it as a proof of 
His displeasure, and to prevent the people from under- 
standing each other's words and wishes. The second time 
it was a proof of God's mercy. He gave to the Apostles, 
who were ignorant, uneducated men, all in one minute, the 
power of preaching in other tongues the Gospel of Christ. 
Miraculous tongues came like tongues of fire, and sat upon 
the heads of his humble disciples, and they were able to 
go forth into other lands, and tell the blessed truths of sal- 
vation to those who were in darkness and in sin. May 
we all attend to these warnings, and acknowledge God's 
power to punish j)ride, and to reward and bless the humble 
and meek. 



r 



41 



alf fours h)it| t|c ^ible. 



STOKIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB 



CHAPTER I. 

ABRAHAM, SARAH, AND ISHMAEL. 

ERY wonderful is the flight of time; day 
folloAvs night, and night foLows day, and 
one season succeeds another; and the sun 
appears to move on, and the earth turns 
rouud, and every day brings change. 

You, who are now children, will in time 
be old people, and you will die, to make 
room for others who will live in your places. 
And if you ever think of these marvels, you may per- 
ha])s sometimes think about those who lived a great many 
years before you were born. In the Bible we can read 
the history of persons who, like us, descended from Adam 
and Eve ; some who were tempted and fell into sin, or 




i j^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

others wlio resisted tlie temptations of Satan to forsake 
what was right, and who loved and obeyed God. We 
there perceive that all who sinned deliberately or inten- 
tionally were punished according to the threats uttered 
by the ever-present God ; and those who were obedient 
to his laws received the promises. 

Abram was a man who, for his belief in God's words, 
and his ready and willing services, was called the " father 
of the faithful." He was born about three hundred years 
after the flood ; and when about seventy years old he was 
commanded by God to leave the land of his birth and go 
to another country, which the Lord then promised to give 
to his children for an inhei'itance ; and there he foretold 
that his children should be afflicted and carried into a 
strange country, where they should suffer many hard- 
ships ; but that after four hundred years he would give 
them the whole country of Canaan. 

Abram, finding that God gave no children to his wife 
Sarai, followed the custom of the country, and took Sarai's 
maid to be his wife ; and God gave her a son, named 
Ishmael. Before the birth of her child, however, Hagar 
forgot lier duties to her mistress. This made Sarai treat 
Hagar unkindly, until Hagar, in anger and sorro^v, deter- 
mined to run away ; so she fled into the wilderness. Poor 
Hagar went away into a wild country, were there were no 
houses nor people for many miles ; and she was a stranger 
in the land, having nowhere to go, so she strayed about in 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



43 




SARAI S UNKINDLY TREATMENT TOTVARDS HAGAR. 

the wilderness until she found a well of water ; and there, 
tired and Aveary, she sat down. Perhaps she began to 
think she had done wrong, and been proud and wilful, and 
to feel sorry for it ; and, jDerhaps, she j^i'ayed to God to 
forgive her and take care of her; for we read that an 
ano-el of the Lord was sent to comfort her. He told her 
that she should 1)e the mother of a son, who would be the 
father of a great nation ; but that he would be a an ild 
man, that his hand should Ije against every man, and every 
man's hand against him; meaning that he would live a 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



wandering life, and exist upon spoil, and on what he could 
get by hunting and warfare. From Ishmael, whose name 
signifies "God will hear," are descended th^ people of 
Arabia, and they live in the deserts of Arabia, in tents, 
and travel on camels and horses from place to place, in 
search of food and plunder. 

The angel also commanded Hagar to return to her 
mistress, and submit to her in all things, as was becoming 
in a servant. So Hagar was comforted and went back to 
Sarai, who, most likely, received her with kindness. We 
must never forget, when we are unhappy, or think our- 
selves unkindly used l)y others, to pray to God for help. 
He can see and know all that can happen to us ; and He 
can comfort us when He has seen how we bear the trials 
He thinks ]3roper to send upon us. It is of no use to try 
to run away from Him Hagar acknowledged this when 
the angel spoke to her ; she knew directly that God had 
found her out, and she said at once, " Thou God seest me." 
Oh, if we could always remember that God can see, and 
know, and remember everything we do and say, we should 
be more careful not to do wrong, and we should at all 
times be anxious to do what was right in his eyes. 

Soon after the birth of Ishmael, God changed the 
names of Abram and Sarai. The Lord called her Sarah, 
which signifies " a princess," and Abram was to be called 
Abraham, which means '' the father of a multitude." 
And God made a covenant or agreement with Abraham, 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



45 



as lie had with Noah about the flood ; and with Adam, 
when lie promised that he would send a Saviour, who 
should be of the seed of the woman. And this Saviour 
was to descend from Abraham and Sarah, as we shall 
read hereafter 



CHAPTER II. 




SODOM AND GOMORRAH. 

'OT, the son of Haran, Abraham's brother, 
had gone to live at a city called Sodom, 
and near Gomorrah, another large and 
populous city. The people in these cities 
had become so bad that God determined 
to send down fire from heaven and de- 
stroy them all. But he would not do 
this until he had told Abraham what he 
intended to do. So one day, when Abraham w^as sitting 
at the door of his tent, three men appeared to him, one of 
whom was the Lord Jesus. Yes, Jesus lived in heaven 
before he came upon earth. Abraham did not know 
them ; l)ut he spoke respectfully to them, and begged 
them to come in, and he provided for them a meal of 



46 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



the Lest things that he had, and Sarah baked cakes for 
them, and they did eat ; after which they promised that 
Sarah, who was now an ohi woman, should have a son. 

At first Sarah laughed at these words, because she 
thought they were only joking, but she afterwards believ- 
ed. The two angels then went towards Sodom, and the 
Lord stayed with Abraham, and told him that he was 
going to destroy these cities. Abraham remembered Lot, 
and hoped that he had not become wicked, but rather 
that he had taught all his family and servants to serve 
God. His kind heart was touched with fear, lest Lot 
might be destroyed with the wicked people among whom 
he dwelt ; so he prayed to God to spare the city if fifty 
righteous people should be found therein. And God 
promised to spare the city if there should be fifty right- 
eous people in it. Then Abraham begged him for the 
sake of forty ; then for thirty ; then for twenty. And 
the Lord hearkened, and promised that he would spare 
the cities if there could be found only ten good men 
therein. But not even the ten were found. Although 
the Lord had determined to destroy the cities, he remem- 
bered the prayer of Abraham, and he spared the life of 
Lot. The two angels came into Soiom, and they found 
Lot sitting at the gate of the city ; and he arose and bowed 
himself before them, and invited them to go and sleep at 
his house ; for it was now evening, and he thought they 
were travellers and strangers in that country. You see 



RTOBTES OP ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



47 




THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND FATE OF LOT S WIFE, 

Lot was kind and hospitable ; and lie set supper before 
tliem. They then desired Lot to gather together all the 
members of his family, and to hasten and take them all 
with him out of the city, for the Lord was going to de- 
stroy it. Lot went to seek his sons-in-law, but they would 
not listen to his words; until at last the angels took Lot 
and his wife, and two of his daughters by the hand, and 
they brought them out of the city, saying, "Escape for 
thy life ; look not behind thee." The Lord rained down 



L_ 



48 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



fire and brimstone, and destroyed the cities, and all that 
they contained. The wife of Lot was disobedient to the 
commands of the angel : '' she looked back from behind 
her, and she became a pillar of salt." And Lot was glad 
to escape with his life, and to dwell in a cave with his 
two daughters, having lost his flocks, his herds, his pos- 
sessions, and even his mfe. 



CHAPTER III. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO ISAAC AND TO ISHMAEL. 

'N due time Isaac, the child of promise, was 
born to Abraham, and Sarah was very happy 
for a time; but again strife and jealousy got 
into the tent of Abraham, and brought w^th 
them sorrow and discomfort. Hagar and her 
son Ishmael mocked at the young Isaac ; and 
their conduct so angered Sarah, that Abra- 
ham was persuaded by her to send them both 
away ; and they would have died of thirst in the wilder- 
ness, had not God sent an angel to comfort and help them. 
Some time after this, God (who was willing to try the 
faith of Abraham) ordered him to offer up his son as a 
burnt sacrifice ; and this good man obeyed without a mur- 
mur, and had even taken the knife in his hand to slay his 




STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



40 




HAGAR AND ISHMAEL SENT AWAY. 



son, when an angel stayed Ms hand, and showed him a 
ram caught in the bushes, which the happy father offered 
most gratefully in the stead of his darling son. This was 
a type of God's love to us. He spared not His own Son, 
who was also descended from Abraham and Isaac, but 
suffered him to be sacrificed as a sin-offerino^ for us. Ho^v 
oiight we to love and thank God for all His mercies to us ! 
No doubt, Abraham's heart was filled with gratitude, and 
his tongue with praise, when he was enjoying the comjiany 
of Isaac in after years. 



50 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




ABRAHAM ABOUT TO SACRIFICE ISAAC. 

We next read of the death of Sarah, who lived to be 
one hundred and twenty-seven years old ; and Abraham 
bought the field of Machpelah, and laid the body in a 
cave, that served for a tomb. Abraham was very much 
grieved to lose his wife, with whom he had lived happily 
so many years. 

Therefore he sent his servant, who was true and taith- 
ful to the interests of his master, and desired him to go to 
Mesopotamia, the country where Abraham had formerly 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



51 



lived, and where several members of his family still dwelt, 
and to seek for a wife for Isaac. It is true there Avere 
young women who lived in Canaan who might have ])een 
found, hut they did not love and worship God; and 
Abraham wished to get a pious wife for his son, and not 
an idolater/ Eliezer, the servant, went forth with ten 
camels laden with provisions and presents, and journeyed 
many days. One evening, when he had come into the 
neighborhood where Abraham had directed him to go, he 
was tired and weary, and sat down beside a well. Ah ! 
my dear children, you who dwell in this pleasant country, 
where soft mists, and gentle rains, and glittering dew- 
drops refresh the earth and keep the flowers bright, the 
leaves green, and the pools and murmuring rills all filled 
with clear and crystal water, which dances over the smooth 
pebbles, that purify it as it runs along — you know not 
how grateful and precious water is in those sandy deserts, 
scorched l^y a burning sun, without any grass or weeds, 
with no overhanging boughs or neatly trimmed hedges to 
shelter you fi'om its mid-day rays, and where only now and 
then a cluster of tall, thin palm trees enliven the scene, 
and are often far from each other; and the only water 
that can be got is from wells, that are wide apart, and 
generally covered with a large stone to keep the water 
from being evaporated (or dried up) by the scorching sun, 
and sometimes these stones are very heavy, and require 
strength and exertion to roll them away; and another 



52 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



thing I must explain to you, to make you understand this 
history clearly — namely, that the greater part of the riches 
of the people in those days consisted in their flocks. 




REBEKAH AND ABRAHAMS SERVANT. 



Tired and weary, Eliezer sat down by the well-side 
one evening, and having been taught by the example of 
his master, the faithful Abraham, that God would hear 
and answer prayer, he prayed to God to send out to him 
the damsel whom he should appoint to be Isaac's wife. 
Scarcely had he ended his prayer, when Eebekah, Avho 
was a relative of Abraham, came out to draw water. She 



12 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



53 



was very sweet and pleasant-looking, and she was also 
kind-hearted, for she not only gave water to the tired 
stranger, but also to his camels. And, now that God had 
answered his prayer, Eliezer made himself known to 
Eebekah, and presented her with ear-rings and bracelets, 
and accompanied her to her father's, who gave a willing 
consent for his daughter to marry Abraham's son. Then 
Kebekah took leave of her father, her mother, and her 
brothers, and rode away with Eliezer ; and she took with 
her her nurse, and her maids, and all that belonged to her, 
and returned, upon the camels, to Hebron, Avhere she was 
received with great joy l)y Isaac, and she became his wife ; 
and God blessed them, and twenty years after he gave 
them two sons, who were named Esau and Jacob. 



CHAPTER lY. 




THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU. 

SAU Avas Avild and high-spirited, and fond 
of hunting ; but Jacol) was quiet and 
gentle, and liked to look after the sheep 
and goats, and was the favorite child of 
his mother, Rebekah ; while Isaac cared 
more for his first-born son, Esau : and even 
at that time it was customary for the first- 
is 



54 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



born son to inherit the most of his father's property as 
his birthright. One day, when Esau had been out hunt- 
ing, he returned tired, hot, and hungry, and found his 
brother eating some red pottage — a sort of stew made of 
vegetables — and he asked Jacob to give him this pottage 
to appease his hunger. Jacob asked him to give him his 
l)irthright in exchange ; and Esau, w^ho was wild and 
hasty, agreed to do so, almost without a second thought ; 
but the selfish Jacob made him give him a solemn 
promise, which Esau did, and then sat down to enjoy 
his pottage. 

When Isaac had grown very old and dim-sighted, he 
feared that he was going to die : so he was anxious to give 
his son Esau a blessing, and to instal him into his posses- 
sions while he ^\^as able to do so. He called Esau, and 
told him to get him some venison, and to dress it, and to 
bring it to him, that he might bless Esau. So Esau went 
out into the fields to hunt. Kebekah, who had heard the 
command of Isaac, called her favorite, Jacob, and desired 
him to get her two good kids, that she might make savory 
meat for Isaac, and send it by the hand of Jacob, in order 
that he might get his father's blessing before Esau return- 
ed. There was, however, one difiiculty, which Avas, that 
Esau was rough, and his skin was very hairy, and the 
skin of Jacob was smooth and delicate. In order, there- 
fore, to deceive her husband, Rebekah dressed Jacob in 
the clothing of Esau ; she covered the hands and the neck 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. r^ 

of Jacob with the skins of the kids, so tiiat if Isaac put 
his own hand upon his son's hand, he might believe that 
it was really Esau who knelt before him. Jacob, after 
some demur, agreed to do as his mother advised ; she said 
to Jacol), " Upon me be thy curse, my son ;" and this 
punishment very soon fell upon her, for her dear Jacob 
was obliged to go away, and I do not think she ever saw 
her favorite child again. And Jacob, although he succeed- 
ed in deceiving his poor, blind lather, was obliged to run 
away into a far country, to save himself from the just 
anger of his elder brother. 

When Isaac smelt the savory smell of the venison, ho 
asked, in surprise, how it Avas that Esau had found it so 
soon ; and Jacol) answered, " Because the Lord thy God 
brought it to me." Then Isaac, who thought the voice 
sounded different, asked, saying, " Come and let me feel 
thee, my son, Avhether thou be my very son Esau ; for," 
he continued, as he j)assed his feeble hands over the false 
skins which covered the hands of Jacol), " the voice is 
Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau ;" and 
l)efore he would eat of the venison, he asked again, " Art 
thou my very son Esau ?" And Jacob, forgetting that 
God could hear and j^unish him, and that he could even 
take away the blessing he was so anxious to gain, answered 
with an untruth, and said, " I am." Then the deceived 
father ate the meat and drank the wine which Jacob had 
brought him, and he kissed and blessed him, saying, " The 



56 



HALF HOUKS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Lord give tliee of the dew of Leaven and the fatness of 
the earth, and plenty of corn and wine : let people serve 
thee, and nations bow down to thee : l)e lord over thy 
brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee : 
cursed be every one that curseth thee, and l)lessed be 
every one that blesseth thee." And all these blessings, 
under the will of God, who had previously ordained and 
ordei'ed, saying, " The elder shall serve the younger," came 
to pass, for God greatly increased the possessions and 
family of Jacob. From him were descended the priests ; 
David, the king of Israel ; and, finally, the blessed Jesus, 
before whom every knee shall bow in heaven and in earth. 

But Jacob could not feel happy Avhile his father blessed 
him : he knew he was doing wrong, to lie and deceive his 
father, and he was glad to get out of the way before Esau 
returned. Scarcely had he gone forth, when Esau came in 
with his venison, and said, " Let my father arise, and eat 
of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me." Isaac 
trembled exceedingly when he heard the words of Esau, 
and felt that he had been cheated. " Who, and where is 
he," he cried, " that hath brought me venison I)efore thou 
camest, and I have blessed him? yea, and he shall be 
blessed." And Esau, when he heard these words, cried 
with an exceeding bitter cry, " Bless me, even me also, O 
my father !" 

Then Isaac answered, " Thy brother came with subtlety, 
and hath taken away thy blessing." Then Esau cried, "Is 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



57 




ESAU CHEATED OF HIS FATHERS BLESSING. 

lie not rightly named Jacob ? (whicli signifies a sup|)lanter) 
for he hath supplanted me these two times : he took away 
my birthright, and now he hath taken away my blessing." 
This was not quite right, because we know that Esau had 
of his own will sold the birthright to Jacob, and this he 
could never again ol)tain; neither could he have the bless- 
ing. His sorrow and his tears were unavailing, although 

17 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



he wept bitterly, and cried, " Hast tlioii but one Wessing 
oil, my ftither ? bless me, even me, also !" It was too late 
now. Isaac could not take back that which he had already 
given ; but he tried to comfort Esau by the promise of 
wealth, and many other good things. Esau was mortified 
and angry, and he hated his brother so much, that he 
threatened to kill Jacob as soon as his father should be 
dead. And this threat being overheard by Rebekah, 
made her very unhappy and anxious about her favorite 
child, whom she had advised and led into temptation, and 
she feared her own act might bring danger upon him, 
wherefore she now persuaded him to go away from home 
till his brother's anger should be turned away ; and she 
also persuaded Isaac to let him go and visit her brother, 
whom she had not seen since the day of her marriage, 
and Isaac blessed Jacob, and bade him choose one of La- 
ban's daughters for a wife. So Jacob, in obedience to the 
wishes of his parents, set out on a long journey alone: he 
had no one to speak to, no place wherein to rest at night. 
But although God punished him, he did not forsake him : 
he let him be unhappy for a time, as all sinners must be, 
unless they repent ; and we are taught that '' the way of 
transgressors is hard." After walking all day, until th<5 
sun had set, Jacob, tired and weary, lay down upon i\n) 
cold ground to rest ; he put some stones into a heap for a 
])illow, and fell asleep. 

But although he was in a desert place and in darkness. 



18 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



59 






^c^^i. 




JACOB'S DREAM 



God was with him, and gave him a ver}' hap23y dream, for 
he saw in his dream a long ladder, the top of which reach- 
ed unto heaven, and behold the angels were constantly as- 
cending and descending on it, which he thought was a to- 
ken that God was watching over and protecting him ; and 
he heard the voice of the Lord himself promising to be 
his Father and his God, and assuring him that he would 
go with him, and bless him, and give the whole country 
round where Jacob was lying to him and to his children. 



60 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



who should be blessed above all the families of the earth. 
How tlmnkful was Jacob when the Lord promised to be 
with him, to go with him, and never to leave him until 
the end was accomplished. When Jacob awoke, he felt 
very happy. He said, " Surely the Lord is in this place, 
and I kiie^v it not. How dreadful is this place ! it is none 
other than the house of God ; this is the gate of heaven." 
And Jacob set up a stone tfiere as an altar, and poured 
oil upon it, and called the name of the place Bethel^ which 
simiiies " the house of God :" and Jacob vowed there to 
be his servant, and that he would love him, and give a 
tithe, or a tenth part of his 230ssessions, to the Lord — 
which meant, that if he had ten lambs he would offer one 
of them as a sacrifice. Should not this be a lesson to us, 
to give cheerfully to our God, and to his poor, a portion 
of all that we possess I The more we have, the more we 
should give : and we know that Avhile we trust in the God 
of Jacob^ nothing will really do us evil; even if God 
should give us trials, as he did to Jacob, he will go with 
us, and give us blessings in the end, and bring us in peace 
even unto the gate of heaven. 



20 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM. ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



Gl 



CHAPTER V 




JACOB IN THE HOUSE OF LABAN. 

ACOB S uncle, Laban, received liim very kindly. 
LaT)an liad only two daughters, and Jacob 
soon learned to love his cousin Rachel very 
dearly, and he wished to marry her ; so he 
agreed to serve Laban seven years for Ra- 
chel, his younger daughter. And now see the 
])unishment of Jacob : he had himself deceived 
his old, blind father, and now he is himself 
to be deceived. Leah, who was the eldest daughter of 
Laban, also loved her cousin Jacob — she was not handsome, 
like her sister. So when the seven years were at an end, 
Jacob asked Laban to give him his beloved Rachel for a 
wife. Laban pretended to comply, and he made a great 
feast to keep the wedding. But the bride was veiled, and 
brought to her husband's tent in the dark, and, lo ! when 
Jacob had lifted the thick veil off his wife's face, behold 
it was Leah to whom he had been married, and not his dar- 
ling Rachel : and when Jacob reproached Laban for his 
deceitful conduct, Laban replied, that it was not the cus- 
tom of that country to let the younger daughter be married 
before the elder, and that, if he wished to marry Rachel, 
he must serve for her seven other years : and Jacob served 
yet seven years before he could make Rachel his w4fe. 

21 



G2 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JACOB EMBRACING HIS COUSIN RACHEL. 



It was several years before Rachel had any children, 
bnt, in answer to her prayers, God gave her a son, named 
Joseph. Not long after the birth of this child, Jacob de- 
sired to leave Laban, and to go away wath his ilocks and 
herds, and his wives and children, and settle somewhere 
by himself But Laban persuaded him to stay with him, 
because he found out that God had made all things to 
prosper of which Jacob had the charge; and he agreed 
to give him certain of the sheep, and of the goats, as wages. 



22 



il 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



63 



Seeing tliat the flock of his son-in-hiw was stronger and 
better than liis own, Laban became more and more jealous 
and selflshj and his sons also murmured against their cousin. 
So Jacob prayed to God, as we sliouhl all do at all times, 
and more particularly in any time of trouble or perplex- 
ity, and God will direct our ways, as he did unto Jacob. 
" Return," said the Lord, " unto the land of thy kindred, 
and I will be Avitli thee." So, twenty years after he had 
fled from the face of his angry brother, lonely and poor, he 
gathered together his wives, and their children, and their 
maids, and his cattle, and all his possessions; and he 
mounted his wives upon camels, and took them all away 
unknoAvn to Laban. But, three days after, when Laban 
discovered that Jacob and all his family had departed, he 
hastened to go after them. But, on the seventh night, just 
as he Imd come in sight of the tents where the family of 
Jacob Avere abiding, the Lord appeared unto Lal)an in a 
dream, and said, " Take lieed that thou speak unto Jacob 
neither good nor bad !" 

Laban was afraid to use any violence tow^ards him, 
whom the Lord guarded. So he sj^ake kindly, and made 
a covenant with his son-in-law, to be kind to one anotlier 
in future ; and then Lal)an kissed his daughters and their 
children, and blessed them, and returned to his own place. 
And the angels of God were sent to encourage Jacob to 
proceed on his way. 

Then Jacob sent a messenger to tell his brother that 

23 



64 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



he was coming back, and that he had plenty of oxen and 
asses, ilocks, men-servants, and women-servants, and beg- 
ging him to be friends with him. He wished Esan to un- 
derstand that he had wealth enough of his OAvn, without 
going to be a burden or expense to his brother. When 
the servants returned, however, they told Jacob that Esau 
was coming out to meet him, and four hundred men with 
him. Jacob's heart trembled, fearing Esau would kill 
him, as he had threatened. We do not read in the Bible 
that Esau had any unkind intentions towards Jacob; but 
his own conscience made him afraid. He could not forget 
that he had deceived and wronged his brother, and that 
he deserved his anger. But he did the wisest thing it was 
possible to do — he prayed to God to hear him and to help 
him. It is conscience that makes us cowards. And, like 
Jacob, when we are afraid, we should go to God, who 
alone can protect and help us. God can do good to all 
who trust in him. And, in answer to Jacob's prayer, God 
filled the heart of Esau with brotherly love and affection. 
When he saw Jacob bowing down before him, which he 
did seven times, Esau ran to meet him and embraced, and 
fell on his neck and kissed him; and the two brothers 
wept together for joy. And after they had talked together, 
and Esau had seen the wives, and children, and possessions 
of his brother, they blessed each other and parted. Esau 
returned to Mount Seir, where he dwelt, and Jacob went 
to Succoth. During the Avhole night before Jacob met his 

21 



STORIES OP ABIfAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



65 




JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL. 



brother Esau, lie had spent it in prayer to God. And the 
Lord sent an angel to wrestle with Jacob, and in the 
morning, before he would let the angel go, he prevailed 
upon him to bless him. And as a token that his prayers 
liad prevailed, the Lord changed the name of Jacob to 
Isi'ael, and from that time the descendants of Jacob are 
called Israelites. 



66 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER VI. 

Jacob's last years and death. 

ACOB was very happy for a little time after 
lie had made friends with Esau ; but soon 
his family began to follow the example of 
the people in the land where they were 
dwelling, and they worshipped idols, and 
this grieved Jacob, who, at length, by God's 
direction, brought them to Bethel, the place 
where he had seen the ladder in his dream, and there he 
built an altar, and obliged his sons to put away their 
idols ; and because they did not obey, he took away their 
idols and hid them under a tree. And soon after this, 
Deborah, the kind nurse of Rachel, died, and Rachel lived 
but a little while after her. How grieved was Jacob to 
lose his favorite wife ! and what was more sad, she left 
behind her, besides Joseph, another dear little helpless 
baby, whom his father called Benjamin. But although the 
poor mother was buried, and a pillar stood upon her grave, 
God took care of the little baby, and made his father love 
him very dearly. Jacob travelled onwards till he came to 
his father's house, but there was no kind mother to wel- 
come him. Perhaps the sorrow she felt at being parted 
from her darling son Jacob had shortened her days ; and 
glad as he was to see his father's face once more, Jacob 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 




JACOB AND ESAU RECONCILED. 

must have felt deeply grieved that his mother no longer 
lived to welcome him, and to hear that his brother had 
forgiven him. And when Isaac died, at the age of one 
liundred and eighty years, blessing and forgiving his peni- 
tent son, the two })rothers buried their father, and wept 
together for his loss, })ecause death is always sad. We do 
not like to feel that we shall never see the faces of those 

27 



68 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



we love any more upon earth, even though we hope, for 
Christ's sake, that we may meet them again in heaven. 

Esau again left Jacob, and he and his family, which 
consisted of twelve sons and one daughter, whose name 
w^as Dinah, settled down in the place where Isaac had 
lived ; and Jacob's sons took care of the flocks and herds 
of their father. 

Shall I tell you the names of his twelve sons ? They 
were Eeuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, 
Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and little Benjamin. 
And you may believe that Jacob loved these two sons 
more than he did the others, because they were the children 
of his long-loved, and now buried, Rachel. The favor and 
kindness that he showed to these children made the other 
ten sons very jealous, more particularly of Joseph, of whom 
i shall have a great deal to tell you another time. For 
the punishment of the fraud and deceit of his early life 
came again upon Jacob when he was old and feeble. The 
justice of God thought fit that he who as a son had de- 
ceived his father, should be deceived in turn by his own 
sons; and Jacob's gray hairs were nearly brought with 
sorrow to the grave by the wickedness and cruelty of 
his children. But God is merciful ; He will not always 
chide, neither will He keep His anger for ever. He spared 
Jacob's life until he had been restored to his beloved son, 
in a distant land. After many years God sent a famine in 
the land, and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food, 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. pq 

and there, to their great surpiise, they found the poor 
brother whom they had sohl, raised by God to be the 
governor of Egypt. It is a grand story, but a very long 
one, so that I can now only tell you that Joseph forgave 
the unkindness of his brothers, and comforted them ; and 
sent for his father and brothers to come and live near him, 
and gave them a nice place to live in, and a great many 
good things. What pleasure it was for the poor, old man, 
Avho had gone through so many troubles and sorrows, to 
meet his long-lost son ! How they fell on each other's 
necks, and wept, and thanked God for His many mercies ! 
Jacob Avas then introduced to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, 
Avho spoke kindly to him, and asked him, " How old art 
thou?" and Jacob said, "The days of the years of my 
pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years : few and evil 
have the days of the years of my life been, and have not 
attained unto the days of the years of the life of my 
fathers:" and Jacob gave unto Pharaoh an old man's 
blessing. And he lived for seventeen years in the land of 
Goshen, and he saw and blessed the children of Joseph, 
and was very happy. But when he fell sick, he sent for 
Joseph and his sons, and he sat up in bed, and told them 
all that would happen to them hereafter, and he blessed 
his own sons, and the sons of Joseph. He told Judah 
that some of his sons should T>e kings, and that the Saviour 
would spring from his line ; he also told them that God 
would keep His promises, and give them the land of 



29 



70 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JACOB BEFORE PHARAOFI. 



Canaan for a possession : and he made them promise to 
carry his bones, and to bury them, with the bones of 
Abraham and Isaac, in the cave of Machpelah. 

When Jacob had told his wishes to his sons, he lay 
down in his bed and died, and his soul went to live for 
ever with God in heaven. Joseph and his brethren mourn- 
ed bitterly for the death of their father for many days, 
and then they carried the dead body of Jacob down into 
Canaan, and buried it with the bones of their fathers — 
Abraham and Isaac — in the cave of Machpelah. 



30 



STORIES OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. 



71 



His troubles were all over now. Like most of GotVs 
people, lie liad many sorrows, but a great many of these 
sorrows were occasioned l)y liis own sin. Yet God, who 
was able to protect Jacob, could also pardon him, and 
make him happy after death. " Blessed are the dead which 
die in the Lord." 



CHAPTER YII 




THE MISFORTUNES OF THE ISRAELITES. 

FTER the Israelites were fairly established 
in the land of Goshen, they began to look 
upon it as their proper home, which had 
been given to them by the permission of 
Pharaoh, at the request of that wise and 
good man, Joseph. But as years rolled on, 
so faded away from the minds of the 
Egyptians the benefits that faithful ruler 
had heaped on them. Joseph was dead, and his children; 
and Pharaoh was dead, and all the people who could re- 
member anything about Joseph. And now a wicked king, 
also named Pharaoh, reigned over the country of Egypt, 
where dwelt, in vast numT)ers, the descendants of Joseph 
and his brethren, whose story I am now going to tell you. 
So greatly had they increased and multiplied, that the 



72 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Egyptians began to feel afraid of them. They feared lest 
these Hebrews should rise up and take possession of their 
country, and drive the Egyptians out, or join their enemies 
if there should be a war. So they tried to set the mind 
of their cruel king against the Israelites, and he treated 
them most unkindly, setting task-masters over them, oblig- 
ing them to work in the fields, and to make bricks to build 
two cities, Eaamses and Pithom. And the more God 
prospered the Israelites, the more cruelly they were op- 
pressed by their task-masters, the Egyptians. You may 
remember that God promised to Abraham that his children 
should be as the sand for multitude, or as stars in the sky 
— so numerous that they could not be counted. So, in 
sjiite of their hard bondage, the Israelites increased, and 
waxed very mighty. Then the cruel king Pharaoh, alarm- 
ed at their number, commanded that every male child born 
in Egypt should be drowmed in the river ?^ile, but that 
the female children should be saved ; for he was afraid of 
the men, but not of the women. You will be glad to 
hear that certain nurses, whom Pharaoh had ordered to 
drown the helpless babes, would not obey the cruel com- 
mand ; and God prospered them for their good conduct. 
And, remembering His promise to bring the Israelites out 
of the land of bondage to the land which He had promised 
to their forefathers, God^ in His own good time, sent them 
a leader and a deliverer. 



32 



alf p0urs hjit| t|e |Jil)le/^ 



JOSP]PH AND HIS BRETHREN, 




C II A V T K R I 



JOSEPHS DREAMS, 



•^^1 HE Bil)le contains many beautiful histo- 
I V'^ I'ies ; and the one I am about to tell you 
is among the most touching of all. It is 
a stoiy about repentance, and kind feel- 
ing, and forgiveness of wrong; and tens 
^^ "^^ of thousands of little children have been 
made better and wiser by hearing the story of "Joseph 
and his brethren." God, who does nothing without a 
cause, tells us, in several places in the Bible, that the 
Scriptures were written that we might learn to be wiser 
and better. It seems to me that there is a mighty and 
wonderful charm in this history of Joseph in particular, 
and I hope, my dear children, it may show you, as it has 
shown many before you, in the first place, how evil may 



74 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 

be overcome with good, and, in the second place, the 

BEAUTY OF FORGIVENESS. 

The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were shep- 
herds. The shepherds in those days were obliged to 
watch their flocks by day and by night, for fear of their 
being devoured by wolves, or bears, or lions. Yoii know 
who calls himself the Good Shepherd, that careth for his 



I 



Joseph and his brethren. ^jn 

sheep. See bow tenderly he nurses the little lambs of his 
flock ! 

Among all the sons with whom God had blessed Jacob, 
the one most dear to him was Joseph ; for he was the son 
of that dear Kachel who had been Jacob's favorite wife, 
and Avho, alas ! died when her other little son, Benjamin, 
was born. No wonder, then, tliat Jacob loved Joseph 
with a peculiar love, and cherished him more than his 
other sons ; for Joseph must have reminded Jacob of the 
beloved wife, Rachel, whom he had lost, and buried under 
the tree ; and as yet Benjamin was too young to be much 
of a companion to his father, though he afterwards loved 
him dearly. Jacob had made Joseph a coat of many col- 
ors, and this kind present raised the envy of Joseph's l)ro- 
thers, who were already jealous of the love Jacob showed 
to Joseph, What a bad passion is envy ! Stifle it, dear 
children, if ever it rises in your hearts. 

It happened that Josej^h dreamed a dream; and he told 
it to his bi'ethren. He said unto them, " I dreamed, and 
behold, we were binding sheaves in the field ; and, lo ! my 
sheaf arose and stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves 
stood round about, and made ol)eisance unto my sheaf" 
And his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed have 
dominion over us ?" And his brethren hated him, and 
could not speak j)eaceably unto him. Joseph only told 
what really appeared to him in his sleej^; but his brethren, 
filled with envy as they were, tried to believe that he 



76 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JOSEPH TELLING HIS DREAMS. 



wished to lord it over them. Again he dreamed, and told 
the dream unto his father and his brethren, saying, " Be- 
hokl, I dreamed that the sun and moon and the eleven 
stars made obeisance unto me." His father rebuked him, 
and said unto him, " What is this that thou hast dreamed ? 
Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to 
bow down ourselves to the earth before thee ?" For Jacob 
could not tell the wondrous way in which God intended to 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ 

lead tliis his favorite child ; and as for his sons, they were 
furious against Joseph, and hated him yet the more. They 
gave way to their wicked thoughts, and suffei'ed such sins 
as jealousy, and envy, and hatred to take possession of 
them ; and, when once these terrible things grow up in our 
minds, we know not into what sin and misery they may 
lead us. By envy the brethren of Joseph were led on to 
commit murder in their hearts. One day their brother 
Joseph was sent to them in the field, by their father Jacob : 
and Joseph went to a place called Dothan, where they 
were feeding their flocks. And when they saw him ap- 
proach, they were filled with wicked, envious thoughts 
against the poor lad ; and they said one to another, " Be- 
hold, this dreamer cometh. Let us slay him, and cast him 
into some pit, and we will say some evil beast hath de- 
voured him ; and we shall see what will become of his 
dreams." But Eeuben, the eldest of the brethren, was 
not cruel, like the others. He determined to save Joseph 
from the rest, and to bring him safely back to his father 
Avhen they were gone ; so he said, " Shed no blood, but 
cast him into the pit that is in the wilderness." 

And when Joseph was come to his brethren, they strip- 
ped him of his coat of many colors, and took him and cast 
him into a pit; but the pit was empty; there was no water 
in it. lieuben, meantime, Avent away, thinking Joseph was 
safe; and the rest of tlie brethren sat down together to 
eat. While they were thus employed, a company of Isli- 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JOSEPH SOLD TO THE ISHMAELITES. 



maelltes came by on tlieir camels. They were carrying 
merchandise to a land called Egypt, to sell it there. Seeing 
this, Judah, another of the brethren, said, " What profit 
is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood ? Come,^ 
let us sell him to the Ishmaelites." And his bretliren 
agreed to this. So they drew Joseph out of the pit, and 
sold him as a slave to the Ishmaelites, for twenty pieces of 
silver ; — and the Ishmaelites took him away. 

When Ivueben came back to the pit, and saw that 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN, 



79 



Joseph was no longer there, he rent his clothes for grief; 
but the rest of the brethren took Joseph's coat, and killed 
a kid, and dipped the coat in the blood. And they carried 
home the coat to their father, and said, "This have we found: 
know now whether it be thy son's coat or no." And Jacob 
knew the coat, and said, " It is my son's coat ; an evil beast 
hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." 
And Jacob rent his clothes, and mourned for his son 
many days. His sons and daughters tried to comfort him ; 
— but he refused to be comforted, and wept long and bit- 
terly for his son. 




CHAPTER II 



JOSEPH'S CAPTIVITY 



EANWHILE, Joseph was traveling with 
the Ishmaelites into the land of Egypt; 
and there he was sold to an officer named 
Potiphar, who vv^as a captain of the guard 
to Pharaoh, king of that country ; and 
by Potiphar he was placed as a servant 
in his house. And the blessing of the 

Lord was with* Joseph; and God made whatever Joseph 

undertook to prosper. 

And Potiphar soon saw what a blessing had come into 

his house with this serv^ant of the Lord. In time he came to 

trust and to love Joseph so much that he made him over- 



80 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



seer, or steward, of his house, and of all. that belonged to 
him ; and so much did he trust to Joseph's honesty, that 
he did not even take account of his possessions, leaving 
everything to this faithful servant. And so Joseph grew 
to be a useful, handsome man. 

But the wife of Potiphar was a wicked woman. She 
tried to tempt Joseph to sin ; and, when he refused to 
listen to her, she was angry, as all bad people are when 
they cannot persuade the good to join them. She told a 
wicked lie to Potiphar against Joseph ; and Potiphar was 
very angry Avhen he heard the words of his wife. He be- 
lieved that Joseph had been unfaithful to him ; he never 
took the trouble to find out the truth, but cast him into 
prison. Here Joseph remained for some time. But in the 
dark gloomy prison, as in the rich palace of Potiphar, 
the Lord was with Joseph. Trust and confidence were 
inspired, even in that dreadful place, by this good man. 
God gave Joseph grace and favor in the eyes of the keeper 
of the prison, who soon loved him, and gave him the 
charge of the other prisoners. 

Dear children, God is everywhere — in the palace or in 
the prison, on the wild sea and in the deep mine — He is 
present to watch over those who love and serve Him. He 
sees every action, and knows every thought of our hearts ; 
and, as he was present with Joseph, alike in the pit, and 
in Potiphar's house, and in the prison. He will be present 
with each of you if you truly seek after Him. 



I 



JOSEPH AXD HIS BRETHREN. 



81 



CHAPTER III. 



THE DREAMS OF PHARAOH'S SERVANTS. 




T happened that the chief butler and the 
chief baker in the house of Pharaoh, king 
of Egypt, had offended their lord — and he 
caused them to be put into the same prison 
where Joseph was • and they were placed, 
by the captain of the guard, under Joseph's 
charge. While they were in prison, God 
caused each of these men to dream a very 
dream. The subject of each man's dream was 
the same ; and they both had this dream on the same 
night. And when Joseph visited them in the morning, 
they w^ere both very sad and anxious, because they could 
not guess the meaning of their dreams. In those days 
God frequently sent warnings into the minds of people, in 
the form of dreams. When Joseph came to visit the men 
in the morning, he noticed how sad these two officers of 
Pharaoh looked, and he asked them, '' Why look ye so 
sad to-day V They answered, '' Because we have dreamed 
a dream, and there is no one to interpret (or explain) it." 
Joseph said to them, " Do not interpretations l)elong to 
God \ Tell me them, I pray you." The chief butler told 



^^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

his dream to Joseph, and said, " In my dream, a vine was 
before me ; and the vine had three branches, and put forth 
blossoms, and the blossoms became ripe grapes. Phara- 
oh's cup was in my hand ; and I pressed the grapes into 
the cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh." 

And Joseph said, " This is the interpretation. The 
three branches mean three days. In three days Pharaoh 
shall restore thee to thy place, and thou shalt deliver 
Pharaoh's cup into his hand as thou didst when thou wast 
butler." And Joseph begged the butler to remember 
him when he was restored to his place, and to tell Pharaoh 
how Joseph had been stolen away out of the land of the 
Hebrews, and had done nothing for which they should 
put him into a dungeon. 

Then the cliief baker said, "I dreamed I had three 
baskets on my head, and in the upper basket were bake- 
meats for Pharaoh ; and the birds ate the bakemeats out 
of the basket." 

Joseph said, "The three baskets mean three days. In 
three days Pharaoh will cause thee to be hanged on a tree; 
and then the birds shall eat thy flesh." 

And the words of Joseph came to pass exactly as he 
had foretold. The butler was restored to his place, and 
the baker was hanged. But the ungrateful butler forgot 
the request of Joseph, who, like himself, had been a cap- 
tive, separated from his friends ; and made no mention to 
Pharaoh of the prisoner wlio had interpreted his dream, 

10 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETIIUEN. 



83 



i H\. 




JOSEPH WITH Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker. 

and who was kept wrongfully in the dungeon. But, though 
the butler forgot Joseph, God did not. 

After two full years the Lord caused Pharaoh to dream 
that he saw seven fat kine feeding in a meadow. And, be- 
hold, seven other kine, lean and starved, came up out of 
the river and devoured the seven well-favored kine. After 
this Pharaoh awoke, but he fell asleep again ; and then he 
beheld, in a dream, seven very fine ears of corn growing 



oi HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

84 

upon one stalk ; when, lo ! seven thin, shrivelled^ empty 
ears sprang up beside them ; and the withered ears of corn 
devoured the seven full eai's that had come up first. Now, 
these two dreams troubled the mind of the king. No one 
was found who could tell Pharaoh the meaning of his 
dreams. But the dreams of Phaiaoh brought Joseph to 
the memory of the chief butler ; and he told Pharaoh what 
had happened to him in the prison, and confessed his in- 
gratitude towards Joseph. Pharaoh sent at once for the 
young man out of the prison ; and, when he had dressed 
himself neatly, Joseph stood before Pharaoh, and said, 
" God showeth Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven 
good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are 
seven years : the dream is one. And the seven thin and 
ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years ; 
and the seven empty ears shall be seven years of famine. 
There shall come seven years of great 2:)lenty throughout 
all the land of Egypt, and after them shall arise seven 
years of dearth and famine ; and the famine shall be so 
grievous, that the years of plenty shall be forgotten." Jo- 
seph then advised Pharaoh to choose some wise man to 
rule over the land, and to appoint officers under him to lay 
by in store-houses a fifth part of the great produce of these 
seven years of plenty, that his people might not perish of 
hunger during the seven years of want. And when Pha- 
raoh listened to the words of this wise young man, in whom 
the Spirit of God was, he knew that it would not be easy 

12 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. r.p- 

to find another like him. So, turning to Joseph, he said, 
"Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, thou shalt 
be over my house, and according to thy word shall my 
people be ruled. See^ I have set thee over all the land of 
Egypt." And Pharaoh took a ring from his finger and put 
it upon Joseph's hand ; and he caused Joseph to be arrayed 
in beautiful garments, and put a gold chain round his neck, 
and gave him one of his best chariots to ride in. And the 
peo])le were ordered to bow down l>efore Joseph, who was 
made ruler over all the land of Egypt ; and Joseph made 
laws for the peoi:)le. He was about thirty years of age 
when he married Asenath, the daughter of the priest of 
On. And (lod blessed Joseph in all that lie did, and made 
him the father of two sons, whom Joseph named Manasseh 
and Ephraim (which names mean forgetting and fruitful) ; 
for Joseph said, " The Lord hath made me forget all my 
toil, and hath made me fruifful in the land of my capti- 
vity." And Joseph caused the people to fill all the barns 
and store-houses; and he stored up corn and provisions as 
the sand of the sea. 



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x^iK^ 




CHAPTER lY. 

JOSEPH A RULER 



HE seven years of plenty passed, and then 
the famine began to afflict the people of 
the land. God's word is sure to be ful- 
filled, whether we listen to it, or whether 
we turn away from it and disbelieve. 
Whatever God says will surely happen. 
\,r^ y- ]v^Q doubt, the Egyptians were very thank- 
ful that Pharaoh had listened to the word of Joseph when 
he interpreted the king's dream ; and Pharaoh must have 
been thankful that God had raised up this wise and pious 
man to help them when they were in need. For now the 
years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said ; dearth 
and scarcity were in all lands, and the people cried unto 
Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said, " Go unto Joseph ; 
and what he saith to you, do." And Joseph opened the 
store-houses, and sold corn to the Egyptians ; and many 
other countries sent to Joseph in Egypt to buy corn. 

All this time Jacob had been grieving for his dear son, 
whom he supposed to be dead. He little thought that God 
had spared Joseph to comfort him and all his family in 
his old age. And now, when the famine came into the land 
where Jacob dwelt, there had been no careful governor to 
lay up corn for the time of scarcity, and Jacob's sons look- 
ed at one another in doubt what to do. Then Jacob said 



! i 

II 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. r.>j 

to his sons, "Go ye clown into Egypt, and buy corn for us, 
that we may live, and not die ;" for Jacob had heard that 
there was plenty of corn in Egypt. 

So Jacob's ten sons went down into Egypt to buy corn. 
You remember I told you Jacob had another son, the 
youngest child of his dear wife Kachel. Benjamin was 
only a baby when his mother died ; and, after the loss of 
Joseph, Jacob could not bear his youngest son to leave him ; 
and he would not send him on the long journey, for he 
said, "Perhaps some mischief might befall him on the way." 

And so, after many }'ears, the brethren who had plot- 
ted to sla}' Joseph stood before him again. He was now 
a great and powerful man, and a whole nation looked up 
to him with respect and love, as their deliverer from want 
and all the horrors of f\imine. Truly, God had been with 
him. He knew his }>rothers when he saw them bowing 
down before him Avith their faces to the earth. But they 
did not recognise their poor, ill-used brother in the fine 
handsome man who was ruler over the land of Egy])t, and 
who spoke a different language from theirs. Although 
Joseph remembered his brothers immediately, he behaved 
like a stranger, and spoke harshly to them ; and he ques- 
tioned them whence they came, and treated them as spies. 
They solemnly declared the truth to Joseph, assuring him 
that they were all the sons of one man, driven by necessity 
to take the long journey into Egypt to purchase food. 
Joseph felt quite glad when they spoke of their younger 



88 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



brother, whom they had left at home with their father ; 
but he would not show his joy. He told them that he 
could not believe their story unless their younger brother 
appeared to prove the truth of their words ; and he even 
caused them to be guarded for three days. And on the 
third day he went to them, and said, " This do, and live ; 
for I fear God : if ye be true men, let one of your breth- 
ren be bound in the house of your prison (meaning. Let 
him remain here as a surety or hostage in my hands) : go 
ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: but bring 
your youngest brother unto me ; so shall your words be 
verified, and ye shall not die." Now Joseph spoke in the 
Egyptian language, and his words were explained to the 
brethren by an interpreter. And they, not knowing he 
could understand their words, said one to another, " This 
is the punishment of our wickedness, for we were verily 
guilty concerning our brother Joseph. We saw the anguish 
of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ; 
therefore is this distress come upon us." And Reuben, the 
eldest brother, who had interfered to save the life of Jo- 
seph when the others would have put him to death, re- 
proached them. ''Spake I not unto you," said he, "Do not 
sin against the child ; and ye would not hear ? and, no 
doubt, for this cause his blood is required at our hands." 
And this is the case with many who do wrong. They 
forget their evil doings for a time ; but when sickness, 
and trouble, and sorrow come down upon them, they re- 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN- 



89 



member the sins of which they have been guilty, and find, 
in their distress, the just punishment for the wrong they 
have done. So it was v\ath Joseph's brethren. They 
mourned aloud for what they had done, and for the evil 
that could never be undone. They could never make up 
to their poor father for all the years of grief he had suffer- 
ed in the loss of Joseph, and they dreaded going to ask 
him to allow Benjamin to leave his side. Joseph was 
obliged to turn away to hide the tears that fell from his eyes, 
when he heard his brother's words. Simeon had been the 
most cruel among his brethren ; therefore Joseph returned 
and communed with them, and he took Simeon and bound 
him before their eyes. And he commanded their sacks to 
be filled with corn, and the money they had brought in 
payment to be restored to the sacks also; and he let them go. 
Greatly were they all astonished when they discovered 
their money in their sacks. Terrified and anxious, they 
hastened back to their father, and told him all that had 
befallen them. Jacob also felt afraid when he saw the 
bundles of money which they had brought back ; and he 
trembled at the idea of parting with Benjamin, for he 
said, " Me have ye bereaved of my children : Joseph is 
not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. 
My son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is 
dead, and he is left alone : if mischief befall him by the 
way in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray 
hairs with sorrow to the grave." 

17 



90 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER V 



JOSEPHS REVENGE. 



UT the famine was still heavy in the land ; 
and in time they had eaten all the corn they 
had brought from Egypt. At last Jacob 
desired them to go down and buy food again 
in Egypt, for they knew not where else it 
could be obtained. Then, with great diffi- 
culty, Judah prevailed upon his father to intrust Benjamin 
to his care; and he let them go with a prayer and a 
blessing, and desired them to carry a present to the ruler 
of Egypt — "a little balm, honey, spices, myrrh, almonds, 
and nuts.-' And he told them to carry double money 
in their hands, including that which had been returned to 
the mouth of their sacks. " Peradventure," he said, " it 
was an oversight." And they went, and again bowed 
themselves before Joseph, whose heart, no doubt, leaped 
for joy when he beheld his brother Benjamin with them. 
He bade the ruler of his house prepare a dinner for them 
all at noon. 

But when the men were brought into Joseph's house, 
they were afraid, because of the money they had found in 
their sacks; and they communed with the steward, and 
assured him that they had only come to buy food, and 
that they had been alarmed at finding their money 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 



91 




JOSEPH EMBRACING BENJAMIN. 



restored to them. The steward comforted them, and 
brought out Simeon unto them. Joseph inquired kindly, 
saying, "Is your father well — the old man of whom ye 
spake ^" He could hardly conceal his joy when they told 
him Jacob was in good health ; and again they bowed 
down before Jose2:>h, who said to Benjamin, God be gra- 
cious unto thee, my son." 

But he could not keep from weeping at the sight 



qo HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

of his dear brother's face : so he went into his chamber 
and wept for joy. And afterwards he made the men sit 
down to table-, while he sat at another table, because the 
Egyptians were not allowed by their law to eat with the 
Hebrews ; and he sent them messes from his table, giving 
Benjamin five times as much as he gave the othei-s ; and 
they ate, and drank, and were merry with him. But 
Joseph wished to make further trial of the good and evil 
that was in the hearts of his brethren ; so he would not 
make himself known to them, but desired the steward of 
his house to fill the men's sacks with food, and to put every 
man's money in his sack's mouth, as he had done before. 
But now he wanted an excuse to take Benjamin away from 
them, wherefore he ordered the silver cup from which he 
was accustomed to drink to be put into Benjamin's sack. 
So this handsome cup, which was very costly and valuable, 
was put, by Joseph's orders, into the sack of the youngest 
brother, and the men were dismissed. But, before they 
had gone very far on their journey, the sons of Jacob were 
quite surprised and frightened, when the steward of the 
ruler overtook them, and said unto them, " Wherefore 
have ye rewarded evil for good ? Is not the cup the one 
from which my lord is accustomed to drink ? Why did ye 
this thing ?" And they replied, " Wherefore saith my lord 
these words ? God forbid that thy servants should do this 
thing. Behold, the money that we found in our sack's 
mouths we brought again unto thee out of the land of 

20 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ 

Canaan. How, then, should we steal out of thy lord's house 
silver and gold ? With whomsoever it is found, let him 
die ; and we, also, will be my lord's bondmen.'' And 
they immediately began to open their sacks, and to search ; 
and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 

In sorrow and dismay they rent their clothes, and, 
laying the sacks upon the backs of their asses, they again 
returned to the city, and hastened to throw themselves at 
the feet of Joseph. He feigned to be veiy angry, and said, 
" What deed is this that ye have done?" And Judah said, 
*' What can we say unto my lord ; or how shall we clear 
ourselves? God is now punishing us for our former sins. 
Behold, we are my lord's servants ; both we and he also 
with whom the cup is found." But Joseph answered, that 
he would only take him for his servant in whose sack the 1 
cup had been found, and the rest might return in peace to 
their father. But Judah begged the ruler to allow him to 
speak, and said, "We have a father, an old man, and a 
child of his old age, a little one ; and his. brother is dead, 
and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth 
him. Therefore," continued Judah, " we cannot go down 
if our youngest brother be not with us ; and, if mischief 
befall the lad, his father will die, and thy servants shall 
bring down the gray hairs of our father with sorrow to the 
grave ; for (I) thy servant became surety for the lad unto 
my father. Now, therefore, 1 pray thee, let thy servant 
abide, instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord ; and let 



94 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

the lad go with his brethren. For how shall I go up to 
ray father and the lad be not with me ? Lest perad venture 
I see the evil that shall come upon my father." Was this 
not kind and generous, as well as just, on the part of 
Judah ? He offered to be Joseph's slave, and to live away 
from his wife and children, and his father, and his brethren, 
that Benjamin might go back and comfort poor old Jacob. 
Joseph was touched to the heart ; he could no longer 
refrain from making himself known to his brethren, and 
embracing them after so many years' absence. So he sent 
away all his servants and officers, and allowed no one else 
to be present while he made himself known, for he could 
not refrain from weeping ; indeed, he sobbed aloud, so that 
the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard him. Then 
he said to the wondering sons of Jacob, " I am Joseph ! 
Doth my father yet live?" His brethren were very much 
frightened and troubled at his presence ; but he said unto 
them kindly, " Come near to me, I pray you. I am Joseph 
your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. But be not 
grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; 
for God did send me before you to save your lives by a 
great deliverance." And he fell upon his brother Ben- 
jamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 
And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them, 
saying, " Hasten, and go tell my father that God hath 
made me lord of all Egypt, and ye shall tell him of all the 
glory which ye have seen ; and ye shall bring him, and 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 95 

your wives and children, and children's children, and come 
down, with your flocks and herds; and ye shall dwell in 
the land of Goshen, and I will nourish you all there ; only 
make haste and bring my father down hither." And again 
Joseph threw his arms round his bi'other Benjamin's neck 
and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck ; and he kiss- 
ed all his brethren, and they wept aloud for joy ; and then 
they talked long and happily together. The Egyptians 
heard what had happened, and w^ent to tell Pharaoh, say 
ing, "Joseph's brethren are come." And it pleased Pha- 
raoh well. lie not only rejoiced with Joseph in his joy, 
but he desired Joseph to say to his brethi'en that they 
should lade their beasts and set off at once, and that they 
should take with them wagons, to bring up their father, 
and their wives, and all their children, and to take no care 
for the property they should leave behind them, for that 
all the good of the land of Egypt should be theirs. And 
they who had come up to the land of Egypt in fear and 
sorrow, now returned laden with presents, wdth changes 
of raiment, and silver, and food. And Joseph sent to 
his father Jacob ten asses laden with the good things of 
Egypt, and ten she asses, laden with corn, and bread, and 
meat for his father. 

The sons of Jacob arrived safely at their journeys end; 
and they said to their father, "Joseph is yet alive, and he 
is governor over all the land of Egypt." Then Jacob's 
heart fainted within him, for he could hardly believe the 



96 



HALF HOURS WITH THK BIBLE. 




! I 



DAVID, THE ROYAL PSALMIST 



good news. And they told him all the words of Joseph 
that he had said unto them ; and, when he saw the wagons 
which Joseph had sent to carry him down into Egypt^ 
Jacob's spirit revived again, and he said, "It is enough 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. ^^ 

Joseph, my son, is yet alive. I will go and see liira before 
I die." 

Long after Jacob slept peacefully in his grave, the 
royal psalmist. King David, sang to his harp of the bounty 
and mercy of God to his servant Isi'ael and his children ; 
and very grand and beautiful these psalms are. As for 
Jacob, he hasted to go down into that distant land, and 
he took with him his children and grand-children — in all, 
seventy persons. And on the way, at Beersheba, God 
spoke to Jacob in the night, and pi'omised to be with him 
in Egypt, and to bring his descendants out from thence, 
and to make them a great nation. And when Jacob came 
near to Goshen, he sent Judah forward, to tell Joseph of 
his arrival. 

As soon as Joseph heard the good news, he had his 
chariot brought out, and went to meet his father ; and he 
fell upon his neck, and wept there for a good while. Oh! 
the joy of meeting again, after so many long years ! The 
father had grown old and gray ; the youthful Joseph, a 
man of middle age ; but they had not forgotten the love 
of former years. The old man could only exclaim, *' Now 
let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art 
still alive." 



2o 



98 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER VI. 



THE END OF JOSEPH S CAREER 



OSEPH afterwards presented five of his breth- 
ren to Pharaoh, and instructed them what to 
answer when they should be questioned ; for 
the Egyptians looked upon shepherds with 
contempt, and the family of Jacob had al- 
ways followed the occupation of shepherds, 
and he knew that they could not associate with the people 
of Egypt on that account. So Pharaoh gave them the 
land of Goshen to dwell in ; and when Joseph brought 
his father before him, Pharaoh asked him, " How old art 
thou ?" And Jacob answered, " The days of the years of 
my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years : few and 
evil have the days of the years of my life been." By which 
Jacob meant that he had seen many troubles and sorrows 
in his life ; but yet God had shown him many mercies, 
even when he thought all things were against him. God 
was bringing good to pass in His own way; and if w^e 
really love God, and are His servants, we shall find that 
our trials will soon pass away, and that we shall, in the 
end, have every needful good. 

Now, while Jacob and his sons were living in Goshen, 
and enjoying all they required, there were many poor peo- 
ple dying of hunger in Canaan, and in all the country 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 



99 




JOSEPH MEETING HIS FRIENDS 



around ; for the famine was very dreadful, and there was 
no food for the people, or their sheep, and oxen, and horses. 
And when these poor people had no more money left to 
buy food for their cattle, Joseph told them to bring theii- 
cattle to him, and he would give them bread in exchange 
for their horses, or asses, or whatever they might have. And 
in the next year these poor hungry people had no more 



100 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



flocks and herds to give, so Joseph took their lands in ex- 
change for bread ; and thus all the land became Pharaoh's. 
The next year it came to pass that, when the people had 
no more land to give — for Joseph had bought all the lands 
of the Egyptians for Pharaoh — Joseph supplied them with 
food for themselves and their families, and gave them seed 
to sow in the fields for Pharaoh, on condition that they 
became servants, or bondmen, to Pharaoh. "And they 
said, Thou hast saved our lives : let us find grace in the 
sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." And 
Jacob lived in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, for seven- 
teen years. And just before he died, Jacob made his son 
Joseph promise to him that he w^ould carry him out of 
Egypt, and bury him in the burying-place of his fathers. 
And Joseph promised to do so, as Jacob wished. 

Soon after this Joseph heard that his father was very 
ill, and he went immediately, with his two sons, Ephraim 
and Manasseh, to visit him. And the eyes of Jacob w^ere 
very dim, so that he could not distinguish them. But wdien 
he heard Joseph was come, he sat up in the bed and call- 
ed all his sons round him, and told them many wonderful 
things which had happened to him, and of the mercies God 
had shown him. And he blessed the children of Joseph, 
and kissed them, saying to Joseph, "I had not thought 
to see thy face : and, lo ! God hath showed me also thy 
children." Then Joseph bowled down before the old man 
of one hundred and forty-seven years, and he placed his 



JOSEPH AND HIS niiETHIiEN. 



101 




Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph. 



hands upon the heads of Joseph's sons, and blessed them ; 
and he prayed to God to bless them, and make them good \ 
and prosperous ; and he foretold that the younger son I 
Ephraim should be more fruitful and wealthy than the 
elder son. He afterwards blessed Joseph, and prayed the 



102 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



mighty God of his fathers to help and to bless Joseph, 
saying, '^ By the Almighty, who shall bless thee with 
blessings of heaven above: they shall be upon the head 
of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was 
separate from his brethren." And, having taken leave of 
all his family, Jacob died. Joseph wept over his father, 
and kissed him, and ordered his dead body to be embalm- 
ed by the physicians, after the custom of the Egyptians. 
He mourned for his father seventy days; and he sought 
the permission of Pharaoh to go and carry his father's dead 
body up into the land of Canaan, whither he went and a 
great company with him. And there he buried Jacob, in 
the cave of Machpelah. And so the dust of the aged pa- 
triarch rested at last in peace, with the ashes of Abraham 
and Sarah, of Isaac and Rebekah, and of his own faithful 
and loving wife Leah. 




CHAPTER VII. 

Joseph's last years and death. 

FTER their return into Egypt, the brothers 
of Joseph began to be afraid that, now their 
father was dead, Joseph might be unkind to 
them, and punish them for their former ill 
conduct towards him. You see what cowards 
sin makes of us all. When we have done 
what we know to be wrong we cannot be 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. -. ^o 

bappy, even if we escape punishment from man ; because 
God has put into the hearts of all men a feeling called 
conscience, and this conscience is always troubling the wick- 
ed and making them afraid. Very often, they tremble 
when there is nothing to make them afraid. And now, 
although Joseph had pardoned them and saved their lives, 
and made them presents, and been kind to them for seven- 
teen years, his brethren could not forget the evil they had 
done to him in his youth, so they went and fell down be- 
fore him, and prayed him to forgive their ti'espasses against 
him, reminding him how it had been the wish of their dead 
father Jacob that they should be forgiven. Joseph answer- 
ed them with tears of love, and said, with touching humil- 
ity, " Fear not : for I am in the place of God ? " He bade 
them remember that God had turned the evil they meant 
against him into good for them all ; and not only them, 
but all the land of Egypt. And he promised to take care 
of them and their little ones, and comforted them with 
kind words. 

He knew — the gentle. God-fearing man — that to God 
alone belong vengeance and the repayment of injuries, anc 
that God can take care of His own. Many hundreds of 
years afterwards, our Lord Jesus Christ said to those who 
came to hear Him, " If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if 
he thirst, give him drink ; for in so doing thou shalt heap 
coals of lire on his head." In this spirit had Joseph acted 
to his brethren. They had treated him as an enemy ; he 



1 r.4 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

in return fed and cherished them, and opened to them the 
gates of the land of Goshen, which he gave them for an 
inheritance ; and, with the spirit of a true servant of God, 
Joseph forgave the iniquity of his brethren, and returned 
"blessings for curses, and good for evil. Should not this be 
a lesson to us all ? 

After this Joseph dwelt in Egypt many years. He saw 
his children, his grandchildren, and their children, growing 
up around his knees ; and, having lived a good and useful 
life, he made his children promise that, when God should 
call them up out of Egypt, and give them the land of Ca- 
naan, as He had promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to 
Jacob, their fathers, they should also carry up his bones 
with them. Joseph knew that God's promise never fails, 
and that although many years might pass away first, yet 
that God would give the Jews the " land of promise." We 
shall read hereafter how this came to pass. And Joseph 
died, being an hundred and ten years old ; and his body 
was embalmed, and placed in a coffin ; and his soul was 
at peace with the God he had served so well. 



alf p0urs ioit| i\t §il)k. 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES, AND OF THE WANDERINGS OF 
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE DESERT. 



CHAPTER I. 

MOSES' INFANCY AND EARLY LIFE. 

GREAT number of years had passed away 
since the Israelites settled in Egypt. 
A wicked king, Pharaoh, sat upon the 
throne, and he made the Israelites work 
as bondmen or slaves, and ordered that 
all their male children should be killed. 
Then it was that God remembered His 
promise, and sent a deliverer to His 
people. 

There was a man of the tribe of Levi, named Amram ; 
and he married a woman of the same tribe, whose name 
was Jochebed ; and God gave them a goodly child, a boy. 
You may fancy what sorrow and distress Jochebed felt 
when God had made her the mother of this beautiful fair 




■1 Qg HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

babe. Lest the child should be snatched away from her, she 
managed, with a mother's love, to keep him hidden three 
months. Then God put a clever thought into her heart, 
and she made for Moses a little ark, or cradle, of strong 
rushes ; and she put pitch and clay on the outside to keep 
the water from getting through. She laid her dear little 
babe in this cradle, and carried him, with many prayers 
and tears, and him in the flags on the brink of the river 
Nile. The merciful God heard her prayers, and preserved 
the life of the child ; for when Pharaoh's daughter came 
down to wash herself in the river, she saw the ark among 
the flags, and sent her maid to fetch it. And when she 
had opened it, she saw the child : and, behold, the babe 
wept. Then her heart was fllled with compassion ; she 
knew some poor Hebrew mother had hidden her helpless 
babe there ; and she determined to save its life. 

Now, Jochebed had left her daughter near by to watch 
what would happen to the babe ; and the girl went for- 
ward, and said to the princess, " Shall I go and call to 
thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse 
the child for thee V And Pharaoh's daughter said, '^ Go." 
Then she went and called Jochebed, and Pharaoh's daugh- 
ter said, " Take this child away, and nurse it for me." 
And the woman took the child, and nursed it. The prin- 
cess called the child MOSES ; and he throve and grew, 
and was brought up at the court of Pharaoh, as if he 
had been the princess's own son. 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



107 




MOSES DISCOVERED BY PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. 

But althougli he was living in splendor and plenty, lie 
was grieved at tte bondage of his own countrymen the 
Hebrews, and angry when he saw the burdens the Egyp- 
tians laid upon them. 

One day, when he had gone out to his brethren and 
looked on their burdens, he saw an Egyptian smiting an 
Hebrew, one of his brethren. He took the Hebrew's 
part, and in the fight the Egyptian was slain ; and Moses 



IQg HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

hid him in the sand, and thought no one had seen him. 
But the next day, when he went out, two men of the He- 
brews were fighting together ; and he said to him that did 
the wrong, " Why smitest thou thy fellow ?" The man 
replied, " Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us ? 
intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ?" 
And Moses was afraid, for he saw that his deed was 
known. Pharaoh came to hear of it, and was so angry 
that he sought to slay Moses. So Moses fled into the 
land of Midian, where he became a shepherd, keeping the 
flocks of a priest named Jethro ; and Jethro gave Zippo- 
rah, his daughter, to Moses for a wife. 

He often thought of the sorrows of his own people in 
Egypt. As for the Israelites, they were more unhappy 
than ever. They sighed and groaned by reason of the 
bondage, and their cry came up unto God. And God re- 
membered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and 
with Jacob, and looked graciously down upon their grief 

One day, as Moses sat beside the desert keeping his 
sheep, he was surprised to see a bush not far off all spark- 
ling with light, as though it were on fire ; but, although 
it appeared to be in flames, the leaves did not fall off, 
nor was the bush consumed. And the angel of the Lord 
appeared to him in the midst of the bush ; — and Moses 
said, '' I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, 
why the bush is not burnt." And the Lord called to 
Moses out of the bush, and said, '' Moses, Moses." And 



THE HISTORY OP MOSES. 



109 



He said, "Here am I." Then God told liim not to come 
nearer, hut to draw his shoes from off his feet ; for the 
place whereon he stood was holy ground. 

When God began to speak, Moses hid his face, for he 
was afraid. But God spoke only words of comfort to 
Moses, and told him that He had seen the afflictions of 
His people, and liad heard their cry for help, and that He 
was no^v going to deliver them out of Egypt, and bring 
them into a pleasant land, where there Avould be plenty 
of milk and honey. And God said, " Come now,' there-' 
fore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou niayest 
bring forth my people out of Egypt." Moses was very 
much afraid ^vhen he heard what God intended to do. 
He kne^v that he had a very hesitating manner of speak- 
ing, and had a difficulty in saying his Avords, and he tried 
to make this an excuse for not going. But God promised 
to be with him, and to help him. And God said, " Go 
and tell the people that I will deliver them ; and tell 
Pharaoh that if he Avill not let my people go to sacrifice 
unto me, I will punish him, and send plagues upon the 
land." But Moses Avas still doubtful of his own poAvers, 
and unwillino; to 2:0. Then God bade him throw the rod 
he held in his hand upon the ground. He obeyed, and 
the rod became a serpent ; and Moses fled from before it. 
But God told him to take the serpent by the tail. He 
did so, and it 1)ecame a rod in his hand. Then, to give 
him another proof of his power, God told Moses to put 



no 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



his hand in his bosom ; and when he took it out it was 
covered with a teriible disease called leprosy. He hade 
him put his hand back into his bosom, — and when Moses 
drew it out it was cured. 

Even these miracles did not convince Moses that he 
was fit to be God's messenger. So God allowed Moses to 
take his brother Aaron. When they came to the elders 
of the Israelites, and told them God's message, the elders 
were glad and believed, and bowed down their heads and 
worshijDped. So Moses and Aaron went together to Pha- 
raoh, and told him that the great God had commanded 
him to let the Israelites go, that they might serve Him. 
But the haughty king answered that he did not know the 
Lord, neither would he let the people go. And when 
Moses performed the miracle of changing the rod of 
Aaron into a serpent, Pharaoh sent for his sorcerers and 
magicians to turn their rods into serpents ; and although 
God suffered the rods to become serpents, He caused 
Aaron's rod to swallow up all the rods of the magicians. 

Pharaoh was very angry. The iisual task of the 
Hebrews was to make brick, and the taskmasters used 
to give them straw to put in the bricks, but now, by 
Pharaoh's orders, the poor people were compelled to go 
out and find for themselves the straw they required, and 
yet to produce as many bricks as before. When the 
people murmured at this cruelty, the taskmasters said, 
" Ye are idle, ye are idle : therefore ye say, Let us go and 



6 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



Ill 




HEBREWS AND TASKMASTERS. 



do sacrifice to tlie Lord." So the poor people cried out 
that Moses and Aaron had set Pharaoh against them, and 
made their condition worse than before. Then Moses 
prayed to God for helj), and was told what to do. 

Early the next day, when Pharaoh went out to the 
river Nile, God told Moses to go out and meet Pharaoh, 
and to turn the Abaters of this beautiful river into blood. 
And no sooner did Moses stretch out his rod over the 



112 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



river tlian it was turned into blood ; and not only the 
water of the river, but every pond and stream, and even 
the Avater that was in the vessels in the houses of the 
Egyptians became blood also, and had a horrid smell, so 
that nobody could drink thereof, and all the fish died. 
But even this punishment failed to make Pharaoh and his 
people fear and obey God ; therefore He sent a second 
plague upon them. He ordered Moses to stretch out his 
hand again over the river after seven days ; and there came 
up such numbers of frogs that they covered the land, and 
crawled over the tables and into the beds, and even into 
the ovens of the Egyptians. But now the Egyptians 
were glad to entreat Moses to ask his God to take the 
frogs away. He listened to their prayers, and immediately 
all the frogs died. 

Pharaoh still continued wicked and disobedient, — and 
God sent a third plague. He ordered Moses to turn all 
the dust in the land into lice ; and the lice covered the 
people and the animals. The magicians of Egypt tried 
to imitate this miracle to deceive the people, but they 
could not. Then the magicians became alarmed, and they 
said to Pharaoh, " This is the finger of God." But Pha- 
raoh's heart was hardened, and he would not hearken 
to them. Wherefore, God sent Moses to meet the king 
T)y the side of the river once more, and he bade him say 
to Pharaoh, " Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that 
they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



IP, 



go, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy 
2^eople ; Init upon niy people in the land of Goshen there 
shall l)e no flies." 

Pharaoh refused to listen, and very dreadful swarms of 
stins^ino; flies came and covered the land. Nothinsr was 
to be seen for flies ; and Pharaoh, in his terror, called for 
Moses and Aaron, and told them to sacrifice to their God. 
But they answered that they could not sacrifice to the 
Lord their God in a heathen land, but they must go three 
days' journey into the wilderness first. Pharaoh made a 
half promise that he would let them go a short distance, 
if the swarms of flies were removed. So Moses entreated 
the Lord, and He took away every fly out of the land ; 
but, as soon as they were gone, Pharaoh hardened his 
heart, and would not suffer the Israelites to depart. 




114 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER II. 

god's judgments upon PHARACIi. 

HE Lord then sent Pharaoh another message, 
saying that He would bring a dreadful dis- 
ease, called a murrain, upon the cattle of 
Egypt if Pharaoh would not let the chil- 
dren of Israel go. But Pharaoh's heart was 
hardened. So the cattle, and the horses, and 
asses, the camels, and the sheep, and all the 
animals that were useful to the Egyptians, 
grew sick and died; and of the cattle be- 
lono^ins: to the Israelites there died not one. But still 
Pharaoh remained unmoved. Then Moses took handfuls 
of ashes out of the furnace, and threw them up towards 
heaven, at God's command, and they came down as dust 
upon the people, and upon the beasts that were left, and 
brought boils and painful sores upon them. 

The magicians suffered so much pain from their boils, 
that they were not able to stand, or to go to Pharaoh 
when he sent for them. But in spite of all this, he hard- 
ened his heart, and would not hearken to the words of 
the Lord spoken by Moses. The next day God sent a 
grievous hail, which broke down the trees and all the 
herbs and plants. Though God had announced by the 
mouth of Moses what He was about to do, and had 



10 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



115 



ordered the Egyptians to take tlieir few remaining beasts 
out of the field, some of the wicked Egyptians would 
not listen. So the hail fell upon them, and killed them. 
There was hail, and fire mingled w^ith the hail : there had 
betjn none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became 
a nation. But God's people were quite safe. No hail fell 
near their dwellings, or in the land of Groshen, where they 
dwelt. No harm came to those who trusted in Him. 

Pharaoh still continued disobedient, in spite of the 
dreadful judgments God had sent upon him ; and he of- 
fered to let the men of Israel go, but not the women and 
children, the flocks and the herds ; and he drove Moses 
and Aaron forth from his presence. Then God said unto 
Moses — " Stretch forth thine hand over the land of Egypt 
foi* the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt 
and eat every herb of the field that the hail hath left." 

Locusts are destructive insects, somewhat like grasshop- 
pers in shape. They are very voracious. At last, when 
they had destroyed all the fruit, every herb and leaf, and 
every green thing, and the whole land was darkened with 
these creatures, Pharaoh confessed that he had sinned 
against the Lord, and against Moses ; and Moses and 
Aaron prayed, and God took away the locusts. But now 
the ungrateful king again refused to let the people go. 

Then the Lord sent a new and a very awful plague upon 
the land of Egypt : a thick darkness, that lasted foi' three 
days. There was no light from the sun or the moon — 



11 



116 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



not the faintest ray. They saw not one another, nor did 
they rise from where they sat for three days. But the 
Israelites had light in their dwellings. 




DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN. 

Yet one more plague did God bring upon the Egyp- 
tians, and afterwards Pharaoh let them go. But this last 
plague was tenfold more terrible than any that had pre- 
ceded it ; for it caused one universal cry of desolation to 
go up from the land, and quelled even the stubborn heart 

12 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



117 



of Pharaoh. This last plague was called the death of the 
first-born. Moses told his countrymen that the angel 
of the Lord would pass at midnight over all the houses, 
and that he would slay the first-born in every Egyptian 
house, from the first-born of Pharaoh upon the throne, to 
the first-born of the maid-servant at the mill. God told 
Moses to instruct the Israelites how they should escape 
the fate that should befall the Egyptians. They were to 
take a lamb, without spot or blemish, and kill it in the 
evening ; and they were to sprinkle the blood of the lamb 
upon the lintel, and upon the two door-posts, that the 
angel might past over the door when he came forth to 
slay the Egyptians ; and afterwards they were to roast 
the lamb whole, and to eat it. This lamb was a type 
of Christ — the Laml) of God — l)y the shedding of whose 
blood our sins are forgiven ; for he bore the punishment 
of death, that sinful men might be saved. 

And the Israelites listened to Moses, and did as he had 
told them. They ate their lamlis, and packed up their 
goods ready for a journey; for they had been commanded 
to get ready for departure. And lo ! from all the houses 
of the Egyptians there arose a dreadful cry of sorrow and 
mourning ; for the destroying angel had killed the first- 
born in every house, from the eldest son of Pharaoh 
down to the eldest of the poorest of his subjects. Even 
the first-born of their cattle died, and there was not a 
house where there was not one dead. As for Pharaoh, 



13 



118 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

he was so distressed and liorriiied at this terrible caLim- 
ity, that he I'ose up in the night, and called for Moses and 
Aaron in haste, and cried out, "Rise np, and go all of 
you, ye children of Israel ; take your wives, your children, 
your flocks and herds, and be gone ; and bless me also." 
The Egy23tians, fearing that they should also be dead 
men, were very anxious to send the Israelites away, and 
they helped them to pack up their kneading-troughs and 
their dough, and gave them rich presents to take with 
them. And thus, in the darkness of the night, this im- 
mense multitude of six hundred thousand men, with their 
wives, and children, and cattle, set forth on their hurried 
journey out of the land into which they had been brought, 
only seventy in number, about four hundred years before. 
God had watched over His people all this time ; and 
though in His Avisdom He had suffered sorrow and afllic- 
tion to come upon them. He had remembered his pro- 
mises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and fulfilled these 
promises by bringing the Israelites out from among their 
o]3pressors. How much sorrow and trouble would Pha- 
raoh have avoided had he listened to the words of Moses, 
and obeyed the commands of God at first ! Let this be a 
lesson to us, not to harden our hearts against God and 
His words ; for He knows all things, and can do all 
things, and He will punish us if we rebel. 



14 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



119 



CHAPTER HI. 




>-v ^ WHAT BEPEL THE ISRAELITES AFTER LEAVING EGYPT. 

HOUGH the Israelites were thrust out of 
Egy})t in such haste, they remembered the 
dying words of Joseph, and they carried 
out his bones with them to the land of 
Canaan, whither God had promised to bring 
them. They went through the wilderness 
towards the Red Sea, encamj^ing now and 
then to rest. First they went to a place 
called Succoth ; then they rested at Etham. 
God had ordered that they should go by this way, and 
avoid the country of the Philistines, who were strong, 
and miofht have attacked them and frisfhtened them back 
to Egypt ; and the Lord went before them by day in a 
pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a 
pillar of fire, to give them light. Thus they journeyed 
safe and happy under God's keeping, and following 
wherever He led, until they came to a narrow pass, called 
Pi-hahiroth, on the borders of the Red Sea ; and they 
encamped there. 

When once the people were gone, the wicked Pharaoh 
was sorry he had let them go ; and he took his horsemen 
and his chariots, and a great army, to j^ursue and bring 
them back. The Israelites saw him coming, and they 

15 



X20 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

were sore afraid. They forgot for awhile all the wonders 
God had wrought in Egypt for their deliverance; — in 
their fear, they began to blame Moses, and said, " Why 
hast thou brought us out here to die? It would have 
been better to stay in Egypt, and serve the Egyptians, 
than to die in the wilderness." 

But Moses said, " Fear ye not, stand still, and see the 
salvation of the Lord : for the Egyptians ye have seen 
this day, ye shall see no more for ever ; the Lord shall 
iiglit for you." And the Lord said unto Moses, " Lift 
thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, 
and divide it : and the children of Israel shall go on dry 
ground through the midst of the sea. And the Egyptians 
shall know that I am the Lord." The night was coming 
on, and while the Israelites rested, the pillar of cloud 
passed between them and their pursuers, from whom it 
hid the Israelites entirely; while the side which was 
turned towards them glowed with light like fire ; and all 
night the two hosts came not near one another. And 
Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea ; and the 
Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind 
all that night. In the morning there was a dry path 
through the midst of the sea ; and the Israelites passed 
through, having a wall of waves on their right hand and 
on their left. When Pharaoh and his hosts beheld them 
by the light of day, most of the Israelites had passed 
through the Red Sea in safety. Then the Lord looked 

16 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



121 




SONG OF MIRIAM. 



on Pharaoh and his host through the pillar of cloud ; and 
they were afraid, and would gladly have turned Lack 
and fled ; l)ut the waters rushed back upon them, and 
drowned the Egyptians. And the children of Israel saw 
the Egyptians lying dead upon the shore; not one of 
them remained alive. 

Miriam, the sistei* of Moses and Aaron, and the women, 
sang songs of praises for this great deliverance ; and all 



17 



-192 ^^LF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

the Israelites danced for joy. They went on their way 
rejoicing, through the wilderness of Shur ; but they found 
no water until they came to a place called Marah. How 
"glad were they to behold the water ; but, alas ! it was 
bitter — too bitter to be fit for drinking. When a difii- 
culty came upon them, the Israelites forgot the mercies 
they had received at the hand of Moses : they murmured 
against him, and were discontented and angry. Moses 
knew where to go in time of trouble ; he cried unto God 
for help, and the Lord, Avhose ears are open to the prayers 
of all who call upon him, showed Mose^ a tree, which 
Moses cast into the bitter waters, and they were made 
sweet. Now, you know, the tree of itself could not make 
the waters sweet, but it was God who gave it such power. 
He could have made the waters sweet by His word only ; 
but it seems as though He wished the people to see Moses 
do some action that would make them feel their depend- 
ence upon that zealous servant of the Lord, who was to 
be their ruler and lawgiver for many years. When God 
had shown Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters. He 
promised the people that, if they would obey His voice, 
and hearken to His words. He would not send upon them 
the plagues and diseases He had sent upon the Egyptians, 
but would help them. 

They Avent forward and pitched their tents under sev- 
enty palm trees, and beside twelve wells of water, at Elim. 
From Elim the Israelites journeyed to the wilderness 

18 



,( I 
I 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



123 




GATHERING MANNA. 



called Sin ; and here a great and pressing trouble came 
upon them — they wanted bread. Again they murmured at 
Moses, and wished that they had died in Egypt. Stub- 
born and unbelieving as they were, they forgot how God 
had taken care of them day after day ; and they regretted 
the life they had led in Egypt, where, in the midst of 
their servitude, they had always enough to eat. God, 
however, forgave their folly, and told them he would rain 
bread from heaven for them. And behold, the next 



19 



224 ^^^^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

morning, the earth was covered with a small round thin^, 
as small as hoar-frost ; and the children of Israel said to 
each other, ''What is it?" And Moses told them, " That 
is the bread which your God has sent from heaven for 
you to eat." They called it Manna, which means, "What is 
it ?" And God fed them with this sweet food, which tasted 
like wafers made with honey, for forty years. He sent it 
down fresh every morning, for it would not keep good two 
days, except upon the Sabbath day ; and Moses told the 
people, on the day before the Sabbath, to gather enough 
for two days, that they might rest upon the Sabbath day. 

It happened not very long after this that the Israelites 
were distressed for water ; not only the men and women, 
but the cattle, were all fainting for thirst. At once they 
reproached their kind leader, and were almost ready to 
stone him to death in their cowardly impatience; and 
Moses went with their troubles to God. Then God told 
Moses to strike the hard rock with his rod, and out of the 
cold dry stone there came a stream of pure watei', of 
which they and their cattle drank, and were refreshed. 

Soon after this, they had a battle with a i3eople called 
the Amalekites ; and it was only through the prayers of 
Moses that the Israelites were victorious. Moses sat on a 
hill close by, and Aaron and Hur held u]) the old man's 
hands, that he might pray for the children of Israel ; and 
the Israelites conquered. 

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came to see him, and 

20 



THE HISTORY Ol" MOSES. 



125 




SMITING THE ROCK. 

brought the wife and children of Moses, who had been 
left with Jethro when Closes went into Egypt. Jethro 
Avas concerned when he saw that Moses had to settle 
every dispute, and to judge every matter among the 
Israelites ; for he saw that the burden of all this work was 
too great for the undaunted leader, who was now old. 

Moses hearkened gladly to the advice of Jethro, who 
told him to choose out some of the w^isest and best of the 
Israelites, to help him to judge and rule the people. 

21 



126 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



When they were come to Mount Sinai, God thought fit 
to give to Moses some written laws for the guidance of 
this great multitude of people, who were daily falling into 
some kind of sin ; wherefore He called Moses up into the 
mountain, and told him to let the people prepare for a 
great solemnity, against the third day. 




CHAPTER IV. 



THE IDOLATRY OF THE ISRAELITES. 



►HEN the third day was come, the Israelites 
saw a thick black cloud covering the 
mountain; and out of the cloud came 
thunder and lightning, and smoke; until 
the earth shook and the people trembled. 
They heard the sound of the trumpet, 
which grew louder and louder ; and when 
Moses spoke to God, the Lord answered 
him with a voice, and bade Moses go up 
to him on the mountain ; and Moses went up, with Joshua, 
his servant. And there God spake to Moses, saying, " I 
am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land 
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage ;" and then he went 
on to give Moses the ten commandments, which you all 
know so well that I need not write them down here. And 
you will think how awful those words must have sounded, 



22 



I 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. -, c)y- 

wheii they were spoken by the voice, amidst the thunder 
and lightning, and the sound of the trumpet ! God gave 
Moses so many other laws, that Moses remained in the 
mountain forty days and forty nights. While Moses was 
thus absent, the Israelites fell into very grievous sin. 
They began to think he would not return ; and, with 
equal disobedience and ingratitude, they went to x\aron 
and said, " Up, make us gods which shall go before us ; 
for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of 
the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. 
Aaron, instead of telling the people they were wrong, and 
persuading them to pray and to wait patiently, told them 
to bring him their golden ear-rings and trinkets ; and he 
broke these to pieces, and melted the gold, and made it 
into the shape of a calf, after the fashion of one of the 
Egyptian idols. And then he built up an altar, and put the 
calf thereon ; and they burned offerings before this golden 
calf, and they ate, and drank, and played before the image, 
and made merry. They forgot that the Lord could see all 
they were doing, and how soon they were breaking the 
promise which they had made. 

When Moses and his servant Joshua, who had been 
with him on the mountain, came down, and heard the 
singing and the music, and saw the golden calf, and the 
people singing and dancing before it, Moses was very 
angry too ; he was so wroth that tlie ungrateful people 
had so soon forgotten their God and His mercies, and the 

23 



128 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE 




MOSES BREAKING THE TABLES OF STONE. 

wonders He liad done for them, that he cast the tables 
out of his hands and broke them under the mountain. 
And Moses said unto Aaron, " What did this people unto 
thee, that thou has brought so great a sin upon them?" 
And Aaron tried to excuse himself by saying that the 
people had compelled him to do what he did. 

Moses immediately took the calf and cast it into the 
fire, and afterwards ground it to powder, and sprinkled 
the powder on the water, and made the children of Israel 



24 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 



129 



drink of it. Then he called out, " Who is on the Lord's 
side ? let him come unto rae." And all the tribe of Levi 
joined him ; and he commanded them to put to death a 
number of the idolaters. And there fell at one time, by 
the hands of the children of Levi, not less than three 
thousand men. The idolaters who were spared for a time 
suffered many ])lagues and sorrows on account of their 
golden calf; for, though the Lord protected them, He said, 
" In the day when I visit, I will visit their sins upon them."" 
Moses made two great tables of stone, on which the 
commandments were written ; and he abode asrain in the 
mountain forty days ; and when he came down, his face 
shone so brightly with the glory of God, that the people 
could not look upon him, and he was obliged to put on a 
veil, while he explained to the people the commands of 
God upon the new tables. He told them that God had 
commanded him to build a tabernacle, or temple, where 
His people were to worship the Lord their God. Part of 
this was to be covered with a veil, and called the " Holy 
of Holies," in which to keep safely the ark, or beautiful 
chest, containing the two tables of the law, likewise 
Aaron's rod, which had brought forth almonds, and also 
a golded pot, containing sonie of the manna with which 
God had fed his people every day. The top of the ark 
was called the Mercy Seat. It had a golden angel on each 
side thereof, and their outspread wings covered the top. 
And the cloud which had gone before the children of 

26 



130 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




MOSES SHOWING THE TABLES OF STONE TO THE PEOPLE. 

Israel rested upon the tabernacle when it was built ; and 
this pillar, which was of cloud by day and of fire by night, 
stood still when the people were to rest ; but, when it 
moved forward, then they journeyed. And Moses had 
some beautiful garments made, according to God's orders, 
for the priests to wear; and he put the garments upon 
Aaron and upon his sons, and put oil upon their heads, 
and consecrated them as priests, who were to take charge 
of the tabernacle, and to offer sacrifices to God. 

26 



THE HISTORY OP MOSES. 



131 



Moses then taught Aaron and his sons what they must 
do, and told them what feasts they were to keep. Every 
seventh year was to be kept something like a Sabbath, 
and every fiftieth was to be a jubilee, or time of freedom 
and rejoicing. You would suppose the Israelites were all 
very thankful to God for these new mercies ; but, alas ! 
some of them, instead of being thankful, were discontented 
and disobedient. Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons, 
who were priests, took upon themselves to do what only 
their father, the high priest, was allowed to do ; and they 
one day put into their censers some strange or unconse- 
crated fire which the Lord had commanded should not be 
used. But God was displeased, and sent down fire from 
heaven and slew them both ; and their father and brothers 
were not allowed to mourn for them. Not very long 
afterwards, some other Levites, named Korah, Dathan, 
and Abiram, were envious of the power given by God to 
Moses and Aaron ; and they murmured against them, and 
said they had as much right as Aaron had to be priests, 
and to offer sacrifices. Then Moses prayed God to help 
him ; and God, on the next day, told all the people to 
remove to a great distance from Korah and his friends, 
and God allowed them to put fire into their censers, and 
to stand at the door of their tents. And Moses told the 
people that God would now show them which were the 
priests that he had chosen, for he would cause all these 
men and their families to sink down into the earth alive. 

27 



132 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BTBLE. 



And the earth trembled and shook, and opened wide, and 
swallowed up all these three men, their wives and children, 
and their tents, and everything that belonged to them ; 
and God sent out a dreadful fire, which burned all those 
who had encouraged Korah and the others in their rebel- 
lion. But although the people were dreadfully frightened 
at this awful sight, and fled away, yet were they not 
humbled nor sorry for their sins ; but they murmured 
against Moses and Aaron, and accused them of having 
killed their friends and companions. 



CHAPTER V. 

^ov - THE LAST ACTS OF M S E S, A N D HIS DEATH. 

IPON one occasion, both Aaron and Miriam 
had been jealous of their good brother 
Moses. They were vexed because they 
thought God loved and honored Moses 
more than He honored them ; and this was 
the very sin which had led Cain to murder 
his innocent and unoifending brother. There- 
fore, when Miriam and Aaron spoke unkind- 
ly to Moses, although he was so meek and 
gentle that he forgave them, and did not answer their 
unkind words, yet God could hear them, and He sent a 
dreadful punishment upon them. He came down in the 

28 




133 




SPIES AND GRAPES OF ESCHOL. 



pillar of cloud to the door of the tabernacle, and rebuked 
them for grieving his faithful servant Moses. And the 
Lord said, " With him will I speak mouth to mouth, and 
not in dark speeches ; wherefore, then, were ye not afraid 
to speak against my servant Moses ? " And when Aaron 
looked upon Miriam, he saw that God had sent upon her 
the dreadful disease called leprosy. Then was he sorry 
for his wickedness, and he knew that he had been ecpially 
guilty with Miriam. He begged Moses to j^ardon him, 
and to pray to God with him, that God ^vould forgive 



134 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

Miriam, and heal her of this disease. But Miriam was 
obliged to be shut up alone for seven days, because she 
was unclean ; and then God healed her. 

When the people drew near to Canaan, the Lord told 
Moses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to search 
the land which they were going to jDossess, according to 
his promise, and to bring news whether it was fertile or 
barren, and whether the j3eople who dwelt there were few 
or many, strong or weak. Joshua, the friend of Moses, 
and Caleb came back, and brought with them a cluster of 
grapes, so large that they carried it between them on a 
staff, and likewise some hgs and pomegranates, that the 
people might see what delicious and fine fruits grew there. 
But the others came back and said the land was full of 
giants, and, that although the fruits and corn were good, 
the people were so numerous they should never be able 
to conquer them ; and only Caleb and Joshua were brave, 
and remembered how God had always fought for them. 
The rest began weakly to cry, " Would to God that we 
had died in Egypt ! " 

The people of Israel began again to murmur for water, 
and they reproached Moses and Aaron for bringing them 
out there to perish with thirst, and they wished they had 
died with their brethren. 

Now comes the saddest part of all this story. Moses — 
the meek and gentle Moses — who had borne with their 
ingratitude, and shown the people kindness and forbear- 
ance for many long years, became impatient and angry, 
and both he and Aaron sj)oke harshly to the people, and 
called them rebels ; and, instead of speaking to the rock, 
as God told him to do, Moses, in his anger, smote it twice 



THE HISTORY OF MOSES. 




DEATH OF AARON. 

with his rod, and there came out abundance of water for 
the Israelites and their cattle. But God was displeased 
with Moses and with Aaron, and He told them that both 
had sinned before Him, so they could not enter the prom- 
ised land ; but Moses should be permitted to see it from a 
distance. Soon after this Aaron died, and after his death 
the people again murmured. So God sent out fiery ser- 
pents to bite the people, and a great number of them 
died. But Moses prayed to God to spare them ; and the 
Lord told Moses to make a serpent of brass, and set it 



136 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



upon a pole, and Moses did so. And, behold, every one 
who looked upon the serpent, recovered immediately. 
Satan is the serpent who bites us, and would kill us with 
sin, if Jesus, who was lifted up upon the cross for our 
sakes, did not save us from eternal death and. punishment. 

Moses was now one hundred and twenty years old ; and 
as the Israelites had wandered about until they were close 
to Canaan, God told Moses to go to the top of Mount 
Pisgah, and there He would show the land where His 
people were to live; and Joshua was to lead, and bring 
the people into it when Moses was dead. So Moses called 
all the people together, and spoke to them of the com- 
mandments God had given them, and all that He had 
done for them. And he told them what they must do, 
and how God would soon bring them into the promised 
land ; and he taught them a beautiful song of praise to 
God, and he blessed them. And then Moses went up into 
Mount Nebo, as God had told him to do ; and from one of 
the points of this mountain, called Pisgah, Moses looked 
down upon the lovely country of Canaan, with its hills 
and fields, and its vineyards, and so beautifully watered by 
the river Jordan. Moses could see this good land from 
one end to the other, and the Lord said unto him, " This 
is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and 
unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed : I have 
caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not 
go over thither." 

" So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there, in the 
land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He 
buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against 
Beth-peor ; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre to this 
day." 




THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



CHAPTER I. 




THE HISTORY OF JOSHUA. 

OSES was dead. That true servant of 
God, so faithful to his trust, so watch- 
ful for the Israelites, so zealous for the 
glory of his Master, had been with- 
drawn by the command of the Master 
whom he had served so well. But God 
did not leave His people desolate. 
From time to time, as occasion required. 
He raised up judges and mighty men in Israel, to lead 
the people against their enemies in time of war, and to 
judge and rule them in time of peace ; and of these 
judges and mighty men we have now to speak Each 
had his appointed work to do, like Moses ; but none was 
so great as that zealous leader, or enjoyed in so high a 
degree the confidence and favour of the Lord. Yet from 
the lives of these mighty men we may all learn lessons 
that we should never forget. 



oQ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



The first of them was Joshua. He had been the friend 
and servant of Moses ; and after the death of Moses, God 
spake to this Joshua, the son of Nun, saying, " Moses my 
servant is dead : arise, therefore, go over this Jordan, 
thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give 
to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that 
the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given 
unto you, as I said unto Moses. There shall not any man 
be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life ; as I 
was with Moses, so I will be with thee : I will not fail 
thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage ; 
for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance 
the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou may- 
est observe to do according to all the law, which Moses 
my servant commanded thee : turn not from it to the right 
hand or to the left, that thou may est prosper whitherso- 
ever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart 
out of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate therein day 
and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all 
that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way 
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have 
I not commanded thee ? Be strong and of a good cour- 
age ; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed : for the 
Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 

Then Joshua bade the people remember the promises 
of God, and the things Moses had commanded them to 

2 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



139 



do. They answered with one accord, " All that thou com- 
mandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us 
we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in 
all things, so will we hearken unto thee : only the Lord 
thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." And God 
was with Joshua, and did many wonderful things for him. 
The first of these was the drying up of the river Jordan. 
Joshua commanded the people to solemnly prepare them- 
selves, and to be ready to follow the ark of the cove- 
nant wherever they should see it carried by the priests. 
This ark was a kind of box made of precious wood, in- 
laid with pure gold both within and without, and was 
made by God's order, to contain the two tables of stone, 
on which Moses had written the commandments; and it 
also contained Aaron's rod, which had wrought so many 
miracles for the Israelites, and a small pot of the manna 
with which the Lord had fed the people in the wilderness. 
The people obeyed Joshua ; and as soon as the feet of 
the priests bearing the ark touched, the brim of the water 
of the river Jordan, the waters where driven back, so that 
the people passed through the river on dry land, quite 
close to the city of Jericho, which they were then going 
to conquer : and no sooner had they come into the land, 
where they could buy corn, than the manna ceased to fall 
from heaven. And the Lord made Joshua the captain and 
leader of His people, and instructed him how to conquer 
Jeiicho, a great and strong city, with thick high walls. 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JOSHUA AND THE ANGEL. 



Once an angel appeared to Joshua. It came to pass, 
as J^oshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and 
looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him, 
with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went 
unto him, and said unto him, ^^Art thou for us, or for 
our adversaries?" And he said, '^Nay, but as captain 
of the host of the Lord am I now come." And Joshua 
fell on his face to the earth, and did worship. 

4 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. 



141 




THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL DOWN. 



Jericho was taken Ijy a miracle. The Priests were com- 
manded to bear the ark round the city once every day. 
Each priest had a horn ; and on the seventh day they all 
encompassed the city seven times, and Joshua said to the 
people, " Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city ! " 
And, behold, as the priests blew the trumpets, and the 
people shouted, the walls of the city fell down flat, so 
that every man walked straight before him into the city. 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



CHAPTER II. 




• :rOSHUA'S TRIUMPHS. 

'HE Israelites were often commanded to put 
to death the heathen, who were for that 
express purpose delivered into their hands. 
When Jericho was taken, only a woman 
named Kahab, and her family, were saved, 
because she had before shown kindness to 
some of the children of Israel. Soon after 
the taking of Jericho, the Israelites besieged 
a city called Ai, and, to the surprise of Joshua, the peo- 
ple were smitten by their enemies, for they had sinned 
against the Lord. Then Joshua prayed to God for help 
and instruction, and God told him that one of his people 
had sinned, and He commanded him to draw lots to 
discover the sinner. So Joshua discovered that a man 
named Achan had hidden some gold and silv^er, and a 
handsome garment, in the earth under his tent ; and Josh- 
ua brought out the hidden things, and he took Achan, 
and all his family, and stoned them to death, and burned 
the bodies and all the possessions of Achan with fire. 
And after they had done this, the Lord sufifered the Israel- 
ites to conquer Ai. 

You see, nothing can be hidden from the eye of God. 
He knew who had taken the things, though Joshua did 

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THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



143 




ACHAN APPREHENDED. 



not; and He made the man a public example, to show 
His abhorrence of sin. 

Some of the heathen kings who lived near, combined 
together to fight against Israel, and they attacked a royal 
city called Gibeon, with wdiose people Joshua had made 
a league ; wherefore Joshua and his mighty men went up 
to fight for them ; and God not only suffered Joshua to 
conquer them with the sword, but he sent down upon 

7 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



them such a dreadful storm of hail, that more men were 
killed by the hailstones than those that fell in the war. 
And, in order to show His miraculous power to His peo- 
ple and to their enemies, God told Joshua to commaud 
the sun and the moon to stand still. And Joshua said, 
'' Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon ; and thou. Moon, in 
the valley of Ajalon." And the sun stood still, and the 
moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves 
upon their enemies. Such a miracle as this had never 
been known before, neither has there ever been such a day 
since then. The affrighted kings went and hid themselves 
in a cave at Makedah ; and Joshua was told that the men 
were hidden there, and he caused great stones to be rolled 
before the mouth of the cave, to keep the kings there 
until the battle was over ; then he had them hanged upon 
five trees, as an example to others, and he destroyed their 
cities. Nor did he return to the camp at Gilgal until he 
had destroyed seven other kings, with all their posses- 
sions. 

When Joshua had grown very old, God instructed him 
how to divide the land of Canaan by lot among the child- 
ren of Israel, according to their tribes ; and he set up the 
Tabernacle at a place called Shiloh, and placed the ark 
therein. He gave them new laws, and exhorted, threat- 
ened, and instructed the people. His last words to the 
Israelites were very impressive. Among other things, he 
said : — " Behold, this day I am going the way of all the 



THE JUDCxES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



145 



earth (he meant that he was going to die) ; and ye know 
in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing 
hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your 
God spake concerning you : all are come to pass unto you, 
and not one thing hath failed thereof" And he said, 
" Now, therefore, fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity 
and in truth ; and put away the gods which your fathers 
served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt ; and 
serve ye the Lord." And. thus exhorting his followers to 
do their duty, the brave warrior died. 

Simeon and Judali were mighty leaders for a time, after 
the death of Joshua ; Othniel and Ehud did some service 
to their brethren, by subduing the heathen nations, and 
Shamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an ox goad ; 
and, when they had no other leader, God raised them up 
a brave defender in the person of Deborah the Prophet- 
ess, who judged Israel for some years; and under her 
rule did Barak lead the Israelites against Jabin and Sise- 
ra. Sisera was a Canaanite leader, who was slain' by Jael, 
the wife of Heber the Kenite, in whose tent he had taken 
refuge after a great battle he had lost ; but God delivered 
him into the hand of a woman, and the Canaanites were 
entirely subdued. There is a very beautiful song in the 
Bible, sung by Deborah and the people of Israel after 
they had subdued their enemies. 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



CHAPTER III. 




GIDEON, AND OTHER MIGHTY LEADERS. 

UT, after all this prosperity, sin crept in 
among the Israelites, and brought suffering 
with it. A rest of forty years from war 
led the people to forget their God, until 
they were sorely oppressed by the Midi- 
anites. Then, in their distress they cried 
unto the Lord, and He heard them out of 
His holy hill. He sent an angel to a young 
man named Gideon. And the angel said unto him, " The 
Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour ;" and he 
commanded him to go forth and smite the Midianites. 
And when Gideon asked a sign of him, the angel told him 
to take some kid's flesh and unleavened cakes which he 
had made, and to lay them upon a rock, and to pour out 
the broth ; and, when he had doiie so, the angel of the 
Lord touched them with the end of his staff, and there 
rose up fire out of the rock and consumed them. 

By this miracle Gideon knew that he was indeed called 
of God to great deeds. So, in the night-time, Gideon took 
ten men of his servants, and, by the Lord's direction, he 
cut down the grove, and cast down the altar of Baal, the 
false god. And when the people saw what Gideon had 

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THE JUDOES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. 



147 




THE MIRACLE WITH THE FLEECE. 



done by night, they would have put him to death ; but 
Gideon blew a trumpet, and many men were gathered 
unto him when they found that he was going to save 
Israel. Then Gideon cried unto the Lord : " If thou wilt 
save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, behold I will 
put a fleece of wool in the floor ; and if the dew be in the 
fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then 
shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as 



-J io HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

thou hast said." And it was so : for he rose up early on 
the morrow, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl 
full of water. Then the brave Gideon knew that he was 
indeed called of God to deliver Israel. Soon a large army 
was gathered together : two and twenty thousand men 
were ready to follow Gideon. The Lord said unto Gideon, 
" The people that are with thee are too many for me to 
give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt 
themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved 
me. Now, therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, 
saying, — Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return, 
and depart early from Mount Gilead." And there re- 
turned twenty and two thousand ; and there remained 
ten thousand. 

And the Lord said unto Gideon, ^' The people are yet 
too many. Bring them down unto the water, and I will 
try them for thee there." So he brought down the people 
unto the water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, "Every 
one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog 
lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every 
one that boweth down upon his knees to drink " 

And the Lord said unto Gideon, " By the three hundred 
men that lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midian- 
ites into thine hand ; and let all the other people go every 
man unto his place." 

Then the Lord told Gideon to take Phurah, his servant, 
and to go by night to the camp of the Midianites and 



12 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



149 




GIDEON AND PHURAH. 



Amalekites, who lay along in the valley, like grasshoppers 
for multitude. And Gideon heard one of the men tell 
. another a dream, of which the interpretation or meaning 
was that God had delivered all the hoSt of Midian into 
Gideon's hands. 

So the three hundred took their victuals and their 
trumpets ; and in each man's hand was an empty pitcher, 
and a lamp within the j^itcher. Then Gideon divided the 

13 



250 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

three liimdred into three companies, and desired them 
to follow him to the camp of the Midianites, and to do 
exactly as they saw him do. 

About the middle of the night, when most of the 
Midianites were asleep in their tents, Gideon and his fol- 
lowers came suddenly into the camp, and all at once they 
brake their pitchers, which had each one a lighted lamp 
in it ; and they all blew their trumpets, crying aloud, 
" The Swoed of the Loed, ai^d of Gideon ! " The whole 
host of the Midianites started up in affright. They cried 
aloud, and tried to flee. They drew their swords, and, 
unable in the darkness to distinguish friend from foe, they 
killed and wounded each other ; while those who managed 
to escape out of the camp were pursued and put to death 
by the Israelites. 

When Gideon and his people were faint and tired with 
pursuing after their enemies, Gideon begged of the people 
of Succoth to give them a few loaves of bread for his 
hungry people, who were yet obliged to pursue Zebah 
and Zalmunna, kings of Midian, but they refused ; where- 
fore, after he had made an end of slaying the Midianites, 
Gideon returned, as he had threatened to do, to chastise 
these churlish men of Succoth ; and he punished the 
elders of the city with briars and thorns, and beat down 
the tower of Penuel, another city, whose inhabitants had 
been as unkind to him as the men of Succoth. The Israel- 
ites wanted to make Gideon their king. They said, " Rule 

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THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



151 




GIDEON AND THE ELDERS OF SUCCOTH. 



thou over us, and thy son, and thy son's son likewise; for 
thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian." But 
Gideon answered, *' I will not rule over you, neither shall 
my son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you." 



X52 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

And for forty years tliere was peace in the land, until 
Gideon died. But the children of Israel were ungrate- 
ful alike to God and to the family of Gideon, their de- 
liverer. This valiant man had no less than seventy-one 
sons. The name of one was Abimelech. He was a 
wicked and treacherous man. First, he made a covenant 
with the Shechemites, and persuaded them that it was 
good he should rule over them ; then he murdered all 
his brethren, excepting one named Jotham, and made 
himself a kino;. But the Shechemites could not love 
a murderer, and, after awhile, they plotted against him 
with a man named Gaal, and lay in wait for him to kill 
him. 

Abimelech, having discovered their intention, deter- 
mined to revenge himself He went and fought against 
their city, and took it, and, having killed the inhabitants, 
he destroyed the city, and sowed the place on which it 
had stood with salt. The Shechemites who were spared 
ran and hid themselves in the house of one of their gods : 
but Abimelech went and set fire to the hold of the 
house, and burned all the people, about a thousand men, 
women, and children. 

God, in his own good time, punishes wickedness and 
cruelty; He remembered how Abimelech had slain his 
brothers, and cut this murderer off in his pride; for 
Abimelech fought against another strong city, called 
Thebez, and when he found that a great many of the 

18 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. 



153 




JEPHTHAH AND HIS DAUGHTER. 



inhabitants had shut themselves up in a strong tower, 
Abimelech thought to burn them also with iire : but, as 
he went near to the door of the tower to set it on fire, a 
certain woman cast down a piece of millstone from the top 
of the tower, and it fell upon the head of this cruel man. 
Wounded to the death, he yet called hastily to his armour- 
bearer, and said, " Draw thy sword and slay me, that men 
say not of me, A woman slew him." And his armour- 



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154 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



bearer thrust him through, and he died. So did God re- 
quite him for his wickedness. 

Tola and Jair successively judged Israel for about forty- 
two years, and then the Israelites were once more oppress- 
ed by their enemies, until they made Jephthah their cap- 
tain, and he led them forth to conquer the Ammonites. 
Jephthah was a great leader of the Israelites, but he is 
chiefly remarkable for having made a rash vow. He vowed 
that if God would give him the victory over his enemies, 
he would offer up as a sacrifice to the Lord the first thing 
that he should meet at the entrance of his house on his 
return ; and the Lord so willed it that the daughter of 
Jephthah, his only and much-beloved child, went forth to 
meet her father, dancing and singing songs of welcome. 
And when Jephthah saw her he rent his clothes and ex- 
claimed, " Alas, my daughter, thou hast brought me very 
low ; for I have opened my mouth (or solemnly promised) 
unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." The poor maiden 
behaved nobly. She said, with pious resignation, " My 
father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do 
to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy 
mouth, forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for 
thee of thine enemies." And Jephthah was obliged to 
obey. He was a mighty man ; but he could never be a 
happy man again, and he did not live many years. He 
had thought himself strong and brave, but God tried his 
faith, and showed him his weakness. 



18 



J 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OP OLD. 



155 




CHATTER IV 



THE HISTORY OF SAMSON. 



EVERAL judges governed Israel after the death 
of Jephthali ; but they did evil in the eyes of 
God, and were oppressed by the Philistines 
forty years ; and then the Lord raised them 
up a mighty deliverer, named Samson, who 
was the strongest man that ever lived upon 
earth. His birth was foretold by an angel, 
and his parents were instructed by the angel, 
before his birth, of all that they should do unto him. The 
first time the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman 
she was alone ; but the second time, she ran and called 
Manoah, her husband ; and Manoah listened to the words 
of the angel, and talked with him, and asked him his 
name. But the angel would not tell his name, and reprov- 
ed Manoah for asking the secrets of the Lord. 

Nevertheless, the Lord accej)ted the offering which Ma- 
noah sacrificed on an altar ; and it came to pass, that when 
the flame of the sacrifice went up towards heaven from the 
altar, the angel of the Lord ascended to heaven in the 
flame. Then Manoah and his wife knew that it was an 
angel who had counselled them what to do. And the 
child Samson was born, and grew, and the Lord blessed 
him ; and the Spirit of the Lord began to move him. In 

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156 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




SAMSON TEARING THE LION TO PIECES. 

one tiling he distressed his parents. He desired to marry a 
beautiful young Philistine, the daughter of their enemies ; 
and when they refused to consent to his wishes, Samson 
went down himself to Timnath, where the maiden dwelt. 
On the way he met a young lion, which roared after him ; 
and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and 
he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had noth- 
ing in his hand ; but he told not his father and mother. 
Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she 

20 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



157 



pleased him well. And as he returned, after a time, to 
take her, he found that a swarm of bees had taken posses- 
sion of the dead body of the lion which he had killed, and 
had begun to store their honey there. So Samson took 
the honey, and did eat of it, and he carried some of it 
home to his father and his mother ; but he did not tell 
them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. 
And Manoah went down, and assisted his son Samson 
to make a marriage feast at Timnath, and thirty of his 
companions were there. At the feast, Samson asked them 
a riddle, which he allowed them seven days to guess: 
and they agreed to giv^e Samson thirty sheets and thirty 
changes of garments if they were unable to find out the 
riddle during the seven days of the feast ; but, if any of 
them should be able to declare the meaning of his riddle, 
then was Samson to give them thirty sheets and thirty 
changes of raiment. The riddle which Samson put forth 
was this : — " Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of 
the strong came forth sweetness." And three days passed, 
and none of them could guess the riddle. At length, on 
the seventh day, they went and threatend the wife of Sam- 
son, that unless she would discover for them the meaning 
of Samson's words, they would burn her and all her family 
with fire ; for they said she had invited them to make a 
mock of them. She was afraid, and she wept before Sam- 
son, and declared that he did not love her, because he had 
not told her the meaning of the riddle ; and Samson said, 



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158 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



" I have not told it to my father and my mother, and shall 
I tell it to thee ? " But at last he suffered himself to be 
persuaded, and he told her the riddle, and she told it 
immediately to the Philistines. 

So on the seventh day the men of Timnath said unto 
Samson, " What is sweeter than honey, and what is strong- 
er than a lion ? " Samson knew directly by what means 
they had learned his secret. He went out in anger among 
the Philistines, and slew thirty men, and he took their 
garments, and all that belonged to them, and gave the 
changes of garments to the young men who had expound- 
ed the riddle. Then he left them, and went back to his 
father's house ; and his wife was given to one of his com- 
panions. 



CHAPTER Y 



SAMSON S FEATS OF STRENGTH. 

FTER some time, when his anger was abated, 
Samson took a young kid as a present, and 
went to seek his wife. Her father refused 
to let him see her, and he found she had 
been given to another, wherefore he de- 
termined again to punish the Philistines 
for their fraud. He went and caught three 
hundred foxes, and he tied them two together, tail to tail, 







THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. \^^ 

vriih a lighted torch, or firehrand, between them, and he 
turned them into the corn-fields of the Philistines just at 
the time of har\'est ; and the standing corn caught fire 
wherever the poor frightened animals ran, and the sheaves 
also took fire, until the flames spread from field to field, and 
burned all the corn, and the vineyards, and olives. The 
persons to whom the corn belonged were very angry, and 
when they found out that Samson had done this unto 
them because his wife had been give to another man, they 
burned her and her father with fire. Samson determined 
to be avenged on them for their cruelty, and as it was 
God's will that Samson should destroy these ^vicked peo- 
ple, He endued him with strength; and Samson went 
forth and slew the Philistines with great slaughter, and 
took up his abode on the top of a rock, called Etam. 

Then the Philistines gathered themselves together, and 
pitched their tents in Judah. And the men of Judah said, 
"Why are ye come up against us; and they replied, **To 
bind Samson, and to do to him as he hath done to us." 
And three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the 
rock Etam, and said to Samson, " Knowest thou not that 
the Philistines are rulers over us ? " What is this that 
thou hast done unto us?" And he said unto them. "As 
they did unto me, so have I done unto them." Then they 
said, " We are come to bind thee, that we may deliver thee 
into the hand of the Philistines." And he said, '^ Swear 
unto me that ye will not fall upon me yourselves." They 

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160 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




SAMSON CARRYING AWAY THE GATES OF GAZA. 



said, " No ; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee 
into their hand." And they bound his arms with two 
new cords, and brought him from the rock. 

So Samson suffered them to bring him bound to Lehi, 
where the Philistines received their captive with great 
shouts of joy. Then the Spirit of the Lord came might- 
ily upon him, and he burst the strong ropes off his arms 
as though they had been flax that was burnt with fire ; 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



161 



and, snatching up the jawbone of an ass that lay near, he 
rushed upon his enemies, and slew a thousand men there- 
with. He called the name of the place Ramath-Lehi, 
which means, " the place of the jawbone." 

The Israelites were comforted at the destruction of so 
many of their oppressors, and they made Samson their 
judge, and he seems to have judged Israel peaceably for 
twenty years. 

It happened once, that Samson entered the house of a 
woman who dwelt at Gaza, one of fhe cities belonging to 
the enemies of the Israelites ; and it was told the Gazites 
" Samson is come hither." And they compassed him in, 
and lay in wait all night, in the hope of putting him to 
death as soon as he tried to pass through their gates in the 
morning. But Samson was made wise by the Spirit of 
God, as well as strong; and he lay quiet till midnight, 
and then arose, and, finding the gates all fastened, he took 
up the strong heavy gates, bar, posts, and all, and took 
the whole away upon his shoulders, and carried them and 
left them standing upon the top of a hill that is before 
Hebron, so that all might see and know what he had 
done. 



162 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER YI. 



Samson's fall and captivity 



AMSON afterwards gave the Philistines an 
opportunity of getting him into their power. 
He loved a woman of the valley of Sorek, 
who was very beautiful ; her name was Deli- 
lah. And the lords of the Philistines prom- 
ised to give this woman a great many pieces 
of money if she would find out where Sam- 
son's great strength lay, so that they might 
bind him and afllict him. And she teased him constantly 
to inform her where his strength lay, and how he might be 
taken prisoner and bound. At first he deceived her, and 
told her if he were bound with seven green withs, or wil- 
low branches, that had never been dried, he would be as 
weak as other men. Then the lords of the Philistines 
brought her the Aviths, and she bound him with them, 
while several of the Philistines lay concealed c\ose by. 
Then she said, " The Philistines be upon thee, Samson ! " 
But he sprang up and brake the withs, as a thread of tow 
is broken when it toucheth the lire. At another time^ 
being entreated by her continually to make known the 
cause of his strength, he told her, '• If they bind me fast 
with new ropes, that have never been used, I shall be weak 
as another man." 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



1()3 




SAMSON SHORN, DELILAH ASKING FORGIVENESS. 

And Delilah tried Samson a second time, saying, " The 
Philistines be upon thee, Samson !" while there were liers- 
in-wait in the chamber ; and again he brake the cords like 
a thread from off his arms. A third time he made a false 
answer, and told her that if she would weave seven locks 
of his hair with a weaver's beam, and fasten it with the 
pin of the beam, he would become powerless. And she 
did so, while Samson was asleep ; but when she told him 
the Philistines were at hand, he waked up and went away 

27 



104 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




sVMbON BOLND 



with the pin of the beam and with the web. At last De- 
lilah said, " How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine 
heart is not with me ? Thou hast mocked me these three 
times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength 
lieth." And she pressed him daily with her words, and 
urged him, so that his soul was vexed to death, till at last 
he opened his heart to her, and told this wicked woman 
the secret — that he had never had a razor upon his head ; 
and that, if he were shaven, all his strength would depart 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



165 



from him, for he would no longer be a Nazarite, or holy 
man, to the Lord. Delilah knew that he had spoken truth. 
And she called the lords of the Philistines, and told them 
all that Samson had said ; and one day, when she had per- 
suaded Samson to lie down and sleep, she called the Phil- 
istines, who brought with them the money they had prom- 
ised to Delilah. And when the seven locks had been cut 
from Samson's head, the Philistines sprang on him, and 
put out his eyes. Then they took him down to Gaza, and 
bound him with fetters of brass, and made him grind in 
the prison-house. So now he was obliged to work like a 
slave for the enemies who had so feared him. No doubt 
he often reponted for his wickedness, and called upon God 
to help him in his trouble ; and so, as his hair grew again, 
God imparted to him his former strength. 




CHAPTER VII 



THE DEATH OF SAMSON. 



HE Philistines rejoiced greatly at the capture 
of Samson. They determined to make the 
offering of a sacrifice to Dagon, one of their 
gods ; for they believed that it was Dagon 
who had delivered Samson into their hands. 
When the people saw him, they praised their 
god for delivering Samson into their hands. 

29 



166 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Then they sent for the poor blind prisoner, to make sport 
for them in the temple of the house of Dagon. 

He was brought out of the prison, and they placed him 
between the strong pillars that supported the roof, and 
he was compelled to make sport for them. Then Samson 
took hold of the pillars with his hands ; and he prayed 
to the Lord, saying, '' O Lord God, remember me, I pray 
thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O 
God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines 
for my two eyes." And taking the two pillars, one with 
his right hand and the other with his left, he bowed him- 
self with all his might, and pulled down the whole house, 
and killed all the thousands of Philistines that it contain- 
ed. Samson was killed himself He knew that this must 
be the case, but he felt that he destroyed more people at 
his death than he had done while living. It was a sad 
death for him to die; but, you see, when he forgot the 
Lord, and the Lord's people, the Lord forsook Samson, 
or, rather, suffered him to bring upon himself his own 
punishment. 

The death of Samson left the Israelites without a lead- 
er, and every one did as he pleased. All was trouble and 
confusion, until God raised up to them a righteous judge, 
called Samuel. God gave this child Samuel to a good 
woman, named Hannah, in answer to her prayer. He was 
brought up with the high priest, Eli, in the temple, and 
was called by God to be a prophet in his early childhood. 



THE JUDGES AND MIGHTY MEN OF OLD. 



167 




SAM SOX PULLING DOWN THE TEMPLE OF DAGON. 

And after the death of Eli and his sons, Samuel judged 
Israel, and helped the people to overcome their enemies, 
the Philistines ; for, in answer to the prayer of Samuel, 
God sent thunder upon the Philistines, and so discomfited 
them that they were smitten before Israel. And Samuel 
judged Israel righteously for many years, but his sons took 
bribes from the people, and were selfish, and fond of money 
and pleasure ; so that the Israelites were discontented, and 
murmured, and besought Samuel to give them a king. 



1(38 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

Samuel warned them that any other king but God would 
bring much trouble upon them, but they would not 
hearken; wherefore God suffered them to have a kino*, 
and told Samuel whom he should anoint to be their king. 
And Samuel made Saul king over Israel; and although 
he was then very old, he lived to see the troubles he had 
foretold brought upon the Israelites — he lived to see 
Saul rejected by the Lord, and to mourn over his sin. 

He was afterwards employed by the Lord to anoint 
David, the son of Jesse, to be king over the Israelites in 
the stead of Saul ; but he was not spared to see David 
upon the throne of Israel. He died at a great age, before 
Saul perished miserably in battle ; and all the Israelites 
gathered together and buried Samuel at Ramah, where he 
had lived ; and they mourned for this good man, who was 
one of the best, as he was the last, of the judges of Israel. 
But it was not his valour, as with Joshua and Gideon, nor 
his strength, as with Samson, but his justice and love of 
God, that made him honoured and esteemed by his people. 
By faith all these mighty men subdued kingdoms and 
wrought righteousness, for it was with the greatest of 
them as with the least : so long as they wrought in the 
strength of God, and for His glory, they were prosperous 
and mighty ; when they became cruel like Abimelech, or 
foolish like Samson, or careless like Eli, their strength was 
turned to weakness, and they were compelled to confess 
that it is the Lord who setteth up and who casteth down. 

32 



169 



palf fjmxs luitlj tljc ^lible. 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH 



eyes 



CHAPTER I. 

HOW THE KINGS CAME TO BE CHOSEN. 

is an evil thing for a countiy when there 
is no just judge — no one to see that the 
laws are kept, to jirevent the lich from 
oppressing the poor, and the poor from be- 
ing idle and dishonest, and the evil-doer 
from troubling the just ; and so it w^as in 
V Israel at the time of which I have to speak. 
Every man did what was right in his own 
The Israelites, who had now settled down in the 




promised land, were surrounded by heathen enemies, and 
some of their judges were not wise and equitable men. 
Wliile the good Samuel swayed the scale of justice, they 
were contented, and might have been happy, for they had 



^ H, HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

God for tlieir king. But they became discontented, and 
importuned Samuel, with many words, to give them a 
king. The Lord told Samuel to protest solemnly to the 
people, and to show them the manner of king that 
should reign; to tell them that the king would tax 
them and oppress them, and make them fight his bat- 
tles, and use them as slaves, if they determined to elect 
one. And when they would not listen, but persisted in 
having a king who might lead them to battle, God 
ordered Samuel to anoint a king over them. Under God's 
direction, there came to Samuel a young, tall, handsome 
man, of the tribe of Benjamin ; his name was Saul. Saul 
came to Samuel for advice. And the Lord said unto Sam- 
uel, " Behold, this is the man that thou shalt anoint to be 
king over Israel." So, after some conversation, Samuel 
poured a vial of oil upon his head, and kissed him, and 
said to him, "The Lord hath anointed thee to be king 
over his inheritance ;•'* and God blessed Saul, and sent His 
spirit upon him, so that Saul was enabled to prophesy. 
And soon after this, Samuel brought Saul and set him 
before the people; and the people saw that Saul Avas 
taller by the head and shoulders than the rest of the 
people ; and they shouted and cried, " God save the 
king !" 

Most of the people were delighted with their king, 
and a select company followed and remained with Saul. 
But there were a few jealous, envious people, who despis- 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



171 




DAVID PLAYING BEFORE SAUL. 

eel Saul, and said, " How shall this man save us from our 
enemies?" He soon proved his bravery, however; for 
the Ammonites besieged the people of Jabesh-Gillead, his 
neighbors, and Saul, hearing of their distress, gathered 
an army, and defeated the Ammonites, and put them to 



^ ^r) HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

iliglit. The people, overjoyed witli their conquest, wished 
to put to death the ungrateful men who had despised their 
king ; but Saul said, " There shall not a man be put to 
death this day, for to-day God hath wrought salvation in 
Israel." And the people followed Saul to Gilgal, and 
there they offered peace offerings before the Lord; and 
Saul, and all the men of Israel, rejoiced greatly. 

Soon after this, Saul was sent to execute judgment 
upon the Amalekites, and God, being justly displeased 
with this heathen nation, had ordered Saul to put every 
living thing, man and woman, child, and four-footed beast, 
to the sword. Saul, however, again disobeyed his Heav- 
enly King, and saved the king, Agag, and the finest 
of the cattle and sheep. But when Samuel came, Saul 
first wanted him to believe that he had fulfilled the com- 
mand of the Lord. Samuel asked, " What meaneth, then, 
this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and this lowing of 
the oxen that I hear ? " Saul then wished to excuse him- 
self, and pretended he had spared the cattle for sacrifice. 
But Samuel made this solemn and impressive answer ; — 
" Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt ofi'erings and 
sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to 
obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of 
rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stub- 
borness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast 
rejected the word of the Lord, He also hath rejected thee 
from being king." And Saul said unto Samuel, " I have 



THE KINGS OP ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



173 



sinned, for I liave transgressed the commandment of the 
Lord and his words; because I feared the people, and 
obeyed their voice. Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon 
my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the 
Lord." But Samuel said, " The Lord hath rent the king- 
dom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a 
neighbour of thine, who is better than thou." And Sam- 
uel with his own hand carried out the sentence that the 
Lord had pronounced against Agag, king of the Amale- 
kites. 

Samuel came no more to see Saul to the day of his 
death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul. And the 
spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit 
troubled him. He could not even sleep in peace. So 
some of his friends brought before him a young shepherd 
lad, named David, who was skilled in playing the harj:), 
and they hoped that his sweet music might divert the 
mind of the unhappy king. And Saul sent messengers 
to Jesse, David's father, requesting that David might 
remain ^\dth him, for he found favor in Saul's sight. 
And when David took his harp and played, the evi] 
spirit departed from Saul. 



174 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



CHAPTER II. 




David' f 3 early exploits. 

OT only was David a clever musician, but lie 
was very brave, altliougli lie was so young. 
One day, wlien lie ^vas keeping liis father's 
slieep, there came a lion and a bear to steal 
the sheep ; but l)y the help of God, David 
slew both these fierce and strong animals, 
without any other assistance. And when 
(xod suffered the Philistines, with a gi'eat 
giant at their head, to go and terrify Saul 
and his people with their threats, God put it into the 
heart of the young shepherd to go forth and meet this 
strong and warlike giant, who was armed with a sword 
and a spear. David, however, took only a sling, which is 
a slip of leather, and a few stones in his hand ; and, while 
the huge giant, Goliath, was threatening to kill David, 
and give his flesh to the fowls of the air, David put a 
stone into his sling, and let it fly ; and the stone hit the 
giant on the forehead, and sank into his head, so that 
Goliath fell dead upon the ground. Then David cut off 
the head of the giant, and the terrifled Philistines fled. 
But the Israelites, when they saw the giant was dead, fol- 
lowed after their enemies, and put numbers of them to 
death, and then returned and plundered the tents of the 



THE KINGS OP ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



175 




DAVID AND GOLIATH. 



Philistines. And the people sang a iine song in praise of 
David and his bravery, saying, " Saul hath slain his thou- 
sands, and David his ten thousands." Now this made 
Saul very jealous — that to him should be ascribed thou- 
sands only, and to David tens of thousands ; and, forget- 
ting the great service David had done for Israel, he tried 
on several occasions to kill the youth. But God preserved 
David's life, although once he was obliged to pretend to 
be mad, and had to hide himself in a cave, and Saul hunt- 
ed to and fro after him. 



176 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




DAVID TAKES SAUL'S SPEAR, 



While David was roaming about in fear of Saul, he 
once sent to a rich man named Nabal, and begged that he 
would supply him and his followers with some food ; l)ut 
Nabal was covetous, and would not give them so much as 
a drop of water. This man had a beautiful young wife, 
named Abigail ; she was sorry when she heard what her 
husband had done, and she immediately took some wine, 
and bread, and fruits, and herself carried the provisions 
to David. God punished Nabal for his greediness by 
death, and David afterwards married Abigail. 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



177 



Saul had promised to give liis daughter Michal, as a 
wife, to whosoever should kill the giant ; and Michal and 
her brother Jonathan, Saul's son, loved David very dear- 
ly, and they both helped to save David from the fury 
of their father ; and David again spared the life of Sanl, 
when he was marching about to slay him. But God pun- 
ished Saul for his cruelty by means of the Philistines, who 
harassed and distressed the kingdom. At last there was 
a terrible battle, at Gilboa, in which Jonathan and two 
other sons of Saul were killed ; and Saul, in his despair, 
killed himself 



CHAPTER III. 

DAVID'S LATER DAYS, AND THE STORY OF SOLOMON. 

AVID grieved very much for Jonathan, 
although he was now made King of Judah. 
For a short time the other tribes claimed 
Ishbosheth, a son of Saul,,for their king; 
but Ishbosheth w^as murdered by his own 
captains, and David was king over the 
twelve tribes. As soon as he was peaceably 
settled in his kingdom, David wished to 
build a temple to the Lord, but God only 
allowed David to get the materials ready for the building, 
because he had been a man of w^ar. And David showed 




-J H.r, HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

great kindness to all tlie descendants of Jonathan, for liis 
friend's sake. But noAV that David was happy and in 
high station, he fell into temptation, and sinned against 
God ; he wished to marry Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, 
one of his captains ; and, because he wished to have her 
for a wife, David sent Uriah, her husband, out into the 
battle, and had the poor man placed in front of the battle, 
so that he was killed ; and then David took Bathsheba as 
his wife. The Lord was greatly angered, and He sent the 
proj^het Nathan to shoAV David the wickedness of his con- 
duct, and to reprove him for it ; and He moreover, smote 
with sickness the poor little child who had been born to 
David, so that it died. And David mourned, and prayed 
to (xod in vain to spare its life. Thus God punished the 
father by the death of his child ; and, all through the re- 
mainder of David's days, God suffered the sons of David 
to cause sorrow to their father by deeds of blood. 

One of his sons, a very handsome youth, named Absa- 
lom, rebelled against his father, collected an army and 
fought against David, and drove him away from Jerusa- 
lem, and tried to make himself king in his father's stead; 
but after a time, his army was conquered by the army of 
David; and, as he tried to ride quickly away, to hide 
himself in a wood, Absalom's long, beautiful hair, of which 
he had been very proud, caught in the boughs of an oak 
tree, and he was dragged off his mule, and hung suspend- 
ed in the air, until one of the king's officers, a captain 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 



179 




THE DEATH OF ABSALOM. 



named Joab, went and put him to death. But David 
mourned for Absalom very bitterly. 

David died when he was about seventy years of age, 
and left his kingdom, and much good advice, to his son 
Solomon, who was the wisest among all the kings who 
reio^ned over Israel. 

Solomon was at first opposed by Adonijah, one of the 
sons of David, who wished to make himself king by the 
help of Joab, captain of the host, and Abiathar, the priest. 



11 



180 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




DAVID'S PARTING ADVICE 



But Adonijah and Joab were put to death^ and Abiathar 
was deprived of his office. Then Solomon took possession 
of Ms kingdom. He at once gave all his attention to the 
building of a beautiful temple, in which to worship the 
Lord, for he loved God ; and, in a vision, he asked of the 
Lord wisdom, in preference to long life, honor, or riches. 
One of the wise judgments of Solomon has been recorded 
for our instruction. The matter was this : — Two women 
came before his throne, and one of them said, " O king, 
this woman and I dwelt in the same house, and each of 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. -. n-. 

US had a babe three days old. In the night, her chihl 
died ; and she rose at midnight, while I was asleep, and 
took away my living child, and laid her dead child in my 
arms." And the other woman said, " Nay ; but the living 
son is mine, and the dead son is hers." Now Solomon 
knew that the real mother would not allow any harm to 
come to her child ; so he said, " Bring me a sword ;" and 
they brought a sword. Then he said, " Divide the living 
child in two ; and give the half to one, and the half to the 
other." Then the woman to whom the child belonged 
cried out, " O, my lord, give her the child, and in no wise 
slay it ! " But the other said, " Divide it ! " Then Solo- 
mon gave the child to the woman who had compassion 
on it. 

When the tem]3le was finished, it exceeded in beauty 
all the buildings of the earth ; and, when the ark was 
placed therein by the priests, the glory of the Lord filled 
the house. Solomon offered a very devout prayer to God, 
begging him to hear the j)rayers that should be offered 
in the temple, and to avert all evil, and to forgive all the 
faults of His people, and their shortcomings, when they 
cried to Him for pardon. And the fame of Solomon's tem- 
ple, and of his house, his riches, and his wisdom, went 
over all the earth. The Queen of Sheba travelled from 
her own distant country to see and hear the wisdom of 
Solomon, and she tried him with hard questions, but he 
answered them all. But, alas ! in his old age Solomon 

13 



182 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. 

forgot all that God liad given to him and done for him. 
He fell into sin, and suffered his heathen wives to lead 
him into idolatry ; and, to please them, he built temples 
for the worship of idols. Justly was God displeased with 
him, and He threatened Solomon that he would take away 
a great portion of the kingdom from his son, on account 
of Solomon's wickedness. And Solomon died, after he 
had reigned forty years over Israel. 



u 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



183 



CHAPTER IV 




. , SOLOMON'S SUCCESSORS. 

EHOBOAM, the son of Solomon, was made 
king after the death of his father. His con- 
duct soon gave offence to many of the old 
and wise counsellors who had helped his 
father to govern. He scorned their good 
advice, and threatened to increase the bur- 
dens of the people. He said, " Whereas my 
father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I 
will add to your yoke. My father hath 
chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with 
scorpions." Ten of the tribes of Israel Avere so much of- 
fended that they threw off his yoke, and made Jeroboam, 
a bold, ambitious youth, their king. There were now two 
distinct kingdoms. One was called Israel, and the other, 
which consisted only of the tribes of Judali and Benjamin, 
was called the kingdom of Judah. Of this latter king- 
dom, Jerusalem, with its beautiful temple, was the capital. 
Sometimes there was war between these two kingdoms. 
Rehoboam raised an army of an hundred and eighty thou- 
sand chosen men, and wished to make war upon the Israel- 
ites ; but Shemaiah, the prophet, brought him a message 
from the Lord, forbidding him to go to war ; and Reho- 



]^g4 H^^^^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

boam and his raen hearkened to the word of the Lord, 
and gave up their design. The king, however, gave him- 
self up to his idle companions, to wickedness, and idolatry, 
until the Lord, in His anger, permitted the Egyptians to 
enter Jerusalem, and to take away the treasures out of 
the temple and out of the king's house. Rehoboam reign- 
ed seventeen years. After his death, Abijam, his son, 
became king, and he at once went to war against Jerobo- 
am ; and he recovered many cities and strong places from 
the Israelites. Yet the Bible tells that Abijam walked 
in the sins of his father, Rehoboam, and that his heart 
was not perfect with the Lord. 

He was succeeded by his son Asa, who began his reign 
well, by serving the Lord. He removed the idols and 
their temples out of his kingdom, and banished many 
persons who did evil. He even banished his own mother, 
MaacLah, from the palace^ where she had reigned as queen, 
because she had broken the commandments, and made an 
idol, to which she bowed down ; and Asa destroyed her 
idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 

Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, the next king, entirely des- 
troyed the idolators and their idols, and sent holy men to 
instruct his subjects in their duty to God. His own peo- 
ple loved their good king, and the neighboring nations 
honored him ; but he suffered his son to marry the daugh- 
ter of an idolator, and he foolishly made a league with 
the King of Syria, who was also an idolator ; and God, to 



iG 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. t or 

show his displeasure, suffered the Moabites and Am 
moiiites to invade Jehoshaphat's dominions ; and, upon 
his re])entance, the Lord deceived the heatlien armies, so 
that they killed each other in their dismay ; and Jehosha- 
phat ended his reign in peace. 

After the death of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram became king, 
and, under the influence of his wicked Avife, he murdered 
all his own brothers, and then worshij)ped Baal, and other 
idols, as she did. The Lord punished his idolatry by 
sufferinir the Edomites, Philistines, and Ammonites to 
invade the country and plunder Jerusalem, and he died 
miseral)ly of a very painful disorder. 

Ahaziah, his son, made a friendship Avith Jehoram, 
king of Israel, and ^vent ^,vith him to flght against Jehu, 
the son of Jehoshaphat, Avlioni the Lord had chosen to 
rule over Israel; and both were killed in the l)attle. 
After his death, his wicked mother. Queen Athaliah, 
put most of her grandchildren to death, and made herself 
governor of the kingdom. Joash, the youngest son, was, 
however, secretly saved, and hidden, with liis nurse, in 
the temple for six years. Then the high priest and others 
placed Joash on the throne, and the people cried " God 
save the king ! " Then the wicked queen Athaliah was 
in her turn murdered. So long as Joash continued under 
the care and advice of Jehoiada, the good priest, he Avas 
pious and amia])le, l)ut as soon as Jehoiada died, and 
Joash was left to himself, he forsook God, and began to 



17 



-.op HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

follow idols ; and, forgetting all the kindness lie owed to 
the good Jehoiada, he was so ungrateful as to put his son 
to death, because he had reproved the king for his wick- 
edness. The Lord then suffered great troubles and dis- 
eases to fall upon Joash; He permitted the Syrians to 
spoil his country, and to carry away his treasures, and to 
slay his subjects ; and, last of all, his own servants con- 
spired against the unhappy king, and they murdered him 
in his bed. 

Amaziah, his son, was struck by the solemn judgments 
that had happened to Joash, and he began his reign with 
piety and moderation. He was successful in his battles 
with the neio-hborino;; nations. But these victories filled 
his heart with pride, and he began to worship) idols. He 
was defeated by the king of Israel. His own subjects 
conspired against him, and he fled away from Jerusalem ; 
but they followed after him, and slew him at Lachish. 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH, 



187 



CHAPTER V 




_r> ,K r. KINGS OF JUDAH. 

/ZZIAII, also called Azariah, succeeded to the 
throne of Judali. He, too, began his reign 
well ; he was Avise and good, and the land 
prospered under his rule. But it was witli 
him as with almost every one of these kings. 
When he was full, he forgot the Giver, and 
became puffed up with pride, and took uj^oii 
himself the office of a priest ; but Avhen he 
attempted to burn incense to the Lord, he 
was struck with a dreadful disease called leprosy, so that 
he was obliged to leave his throne, and hide himself from 
his subjects for the rest of his days. How many lessons 
we may learn from God's dealings with his ancient peo- 
ple ! How ought we to strive to avoid the feelings of 
pride and other faults, which brought such heavy punish- 
ment upon them ! Let us say with all our hearts — " Lead 
us not into temptation." 

When Uzziah was thus unable to attend to his affairs, 
his son Jotham took the government into his hands. He 
was a good youth, and reigned with greater wisdom than 
his father ; but after his death, Ahaz his son reigned over 
Judah, and Ahaz was an idolator, and a wickeder man 
than any who had reigned over Judah. He not only sac- 
rificed to heathen gods, l)ut he went so far as to shut up 

19 



188 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




ISAIAH BEFORE HEZEKIAH. 



the doors of the temple of the Lord. His kingdom was 
invaded by the Syrians, and the Israelites his people were 
carried away captives ; until the Lord put an end to the 
wickedness of Ahaz by cutting him off in his youth. His 
son, Hezekiah, did all he could to remedy the distresses 
of his country as soon as he became king ; he destroyed 
the idols and their temples, opened the holy temple, and 
encouraged the priests and people to worship the Lord 
God Almighty, and he offered burnt offerings and sang 



20 



THE KTNCxS OF ISRAEL AND juDAH. i oq 

praises to God. He sent letters to tlie Israelites, as well 
as to Lis own subjects, inviting tliem to attend tlie services 
in the temple and to keep the feast. 

Being seized with a j)ainful disorder, he was visited 
by the prophet Isaiah, who told him to set his house in 
order because he must die. Hezekiah was much distress- 
ed to hear this message ; he grieved that he must die and 
leave his country to the Assyrians, who were then invading 
it; and he prayed earnestly to God that he might be spared 
a little longer. The merciful Lord hearkened to his prayer, 
and spared his life for fifteen years longer. But before 
this sickness befell him, Hezekiah had received an infa- 
mous letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threaten- 
ing to destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah, trusting in the 
Lord's promise, prej^ared for the defence, and the Lord 
promised him help by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet ; 
and during the night the Lord sent an angel and smote 
all the Assyrians, and when Hezekiah and his people arose 
in the morning, the city was surrounded with the dead 
bodies of their enemies. Although the Assyrian king, 
Sennacherib, escaped for a while, he was soon after killed 
by his own sons. After this, Hezekiah increased in honor 
and riches, and had many treasures ; but, when the king 
of Babylon sent him a present, he was vain enough to 
expose all his possessions to the messengers, and Isaiah 
was sent by God to reprove him for his folly, and to tell 
him that all these things would be liereafter carried away 



190 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



to Babylon, where Ilezekiali's clescenclaiits slioulcl be 
slaves in the king's palace. 

Hezekiah ended his life in peace, and left the crown to 
his son Manasseh. Manasseh was twelve years old when 
he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-iive years in Jeru- 
salem ; and he did that which was wicked in the sight of 
the Lord, and abandoned himself to the worship of idols. 
He went on from one wickedness to another, putting the 
Lord's prophets to death, and we are told that he seduced 
the people to do more wickedness than those nations whom 
the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel ; and he 
shed innocent blood. Then the Assyrians came and took 
him prisoner, and carried him in chains to Babylon ; but, 
upon his repentance, he was restored to his throne, and 
led a humble and pious life for many years, and was buri- 
ed at last in the garden of his own house at Uzza. 

His son. Anion, however, was a wicked man, and did 
evil for two years, and then his servants killed him. The 
crown now came to Anion's son, Josiah, w^ho was one of 
the good children of the Bible. He put down all j)laces 
of idolatrous worship, and caused the book of God's laws 
to be publicly read and explained to his people by the 
priests in the temple, which he had restored and repaired; 
but he died of a wound received in battle with the Egypt- 
ians, and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz, who was 
soon dethroned by the king of Egypt, wdao placed Elia> 
kim, his brother, on the throne of Judah, and changed his 
name to Jehoiakim. 22 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



191 




CHAPTER YI. 



CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 



-HIS prince ^vas deaf to the warnings of the 
prophet Jeremiah, and soon fell into the po^v- 
er of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who 
carried away Daniel and several other princes 
as captives to Babylon. He, however, per- 
mitted Jehoialvim to retain his crown, on con- 
dition of his 23aying large sums of tribute 
money ; and when the king failed to pay this, 
Nebuchadnezzar deprived him of his crown, 
put him to death, and made his son Jehoiachin king in his 
stead — at least, for a short time. But his love of riches 
soon prevailed, and Nebuchadnezzar came and carried 
away all the treasures, even the gold and silver vessels 
out of the temple ; and as God had before threatened, the 
king and the greater number of the Jews were led into 
captivity in Babylon. Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoia- 
kim, succeeded to the throne, after the departure of his 
nephew; but he also offended the powerful Nebuchadnez- 
zai', and brought destruction upon himself, his subjects, 
and his country. Such was the fate of the Jews, or of 
those two tribes of the Israelites who continued faithful 
to the descendants of David. They had rebelled against 
the Lord. Discontented and turbulent, they had despised 
the rule of the judges He had set over them, and in their 



L': 



192 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



obstinacy persisted in having kings who should lead them 
to battle ; and what had been the result ? These kings, 
so greatly desired, had been tyrants, oppressors, and idola- 
ters, and thus the fulfilment of their own wish had brought 
ruin on the people who forsook God, who had brought 
them out of Egypt, and given them the land of Canaan 
for a j)ossession. Let us beware of disobedience. 

Now let us see what became of the rest of the Israel- 
ites who were oftended with Rehoboam, the son of Solo- 
mon, and who refused to obey his laws, but revolted and 
chose for themselves a king named Jeroboam. I told you 
he was bold and ambitious, and proud of being chosen to 
govern so many people. He soon built himself a great 
palace at Shechem, and adorned the city ; and then, fear- 
ing his subjects would want to go to Jerusalem to worship 
in the beautiful temple which Solomon had built, he made 
two large calves of gold, and set them up in difterent parts 
of his kingdom; then he called himself the high priest, 
and taught the people to offer sacrifices to these golden 
images, which he called their gods. One day, as he was 
about to offer sacrifices at Bethel, there came a prophet 
and told him that at some future time there Avould arise 
a pious king of Judah, named Josiah, who would destroy 
this altar. Jeroboam was very angry with this prophet ; 
and as Jeroboam stretched out his hand to seize the pro- 
phet, God dried up his arm, so that he could not pull his 
hand back again ; and the altar on which Jeroboam was 



24 



THE KIXCJS OP JUDAH AND ISRAEL 



193 



offering the sacrifices to the golden calf was rent to pieces, 
and the ashes were thrown off, to prove the truth of the 
prophet's words. Now, Jeroboam felt that it was of no 
use to pray to the golden calf to restore his hand, but he 
entreated the man of God to pray for him to the Lord 
that his hand might be restored to him, and the prayer 
^^'as granted. Every word the prophet told to the king 
came to pass : his people were killed in battle, his cities 
taken, and he spent his days in guilt and misery, and died 
unregretted. 



CHAPTER YII. 

IMORE ABOUT THE KINGS. 

EROBOAM was succeeded by his son Nadab, 
who followed in his evil ways, and, like 
him, set a l:)ad example to his subjects. But 
his reign was short, and as he went to lay 
siege to a city of the Philistines, Baasha, 
one of his own subjects, smote him to death, 
and made himself king in his stead. Not 
content with having killed Nadab, Baasha 
rested not until he had put every member of the house of 
Jeroboam to death, which judgment had been foretold by 
the prophet to Jeroboam's wife. Baasha continued the 
Avar which his predecessors had begun against the king of 
Judah, and he built the city of Ramah, which w^as in the 

25 




X94 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

})orclers of the kingdom of Judali ; but Asa, who, as we 
have heard, was a good king, conquered several cities by 
the aid of the king of Syria, and Baasha, finding Asa too 
strong for him, left off building Ramah. His life and his 
works were evil. He died, and his son Elah succeeded 
him. But the crown which had been gained by murder 
was not long worn in peace by the murderer's son ; for, 
less than two years afterwards, Zimri, one of his captains, 
found him drinking in the house of his steward, and put 
him and all his household to death. Zimri then made 
himself king, but he only enjoyed the throne for a few 
days. His peo2:)le consj)ired against him, and insisted on 
making Omri their king; and Zimri, being besieged in 
the city of Tirzah, in despair set fire to his palace, and 
died in the ruins. There is no peace or comfort for the 
wicked. Fearfully true is the warning given to us in 
another part of the Bible, were we are told that mischief 
shall hunt the violent man. % 

Omri built himself a new palace at Samaria, and there 
he made the capital of his country. He was a wicked, seM- 
ish king, and taught his people to sin ; and his son Ahab 
was more wicked than any king who had gone before him. 
Ahab married a handsome but very wicked heathen wife, 
who persuaded him to build an aitar and make a grove 
for the worship of an idol called Baal. In his reign the 
prophet Elijah lived. This good man went to Ahab, and 
announced to him that the Lord would, as a punishment 

26 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



195 




ELIJAH S SACRIFICK. 



for his wickedness, send a grievous famine upon his coun- 
try. Many poor peoj^le suffered the pains of hunger and 
thirst for the sin of their ruler, and for following his evil 
example. On one occasion, he proved to Ahab, by tire 
that descended from heaven upon a sacrifice, that Baal 
was no God, and that only the Lord God Almighty was 
able to liear and answer prayer ; and the people, being con- 
vinced of tlieir error, put all the j)riests of Baal to death, 
hardened his heart, and only strove to 



Ahab, however 



27 



196 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



kill tlie holy j^rophet; and liis pride, obstinacy, and cru- 
elty became greater every day. He, however, proved that 
he believed in the truth of Elijah's ]_3redictions, though he 
would not reform, by asking the prophet to pray for rain, 
to save his perishing cattle; and the Lord sent rain at the 
prophet's j)rayer. 

Ahab, soon after, looked with covetous eyes upon a 
vineyard belonging to a man of Israel named Naboth, and 
which joined the king's palace. He wished to purchase 
this vineyard, or to give another in exchange to Naboth ; 
but Naboth refused to part with his portion. Jezebel, 
the heathen wife of Ahab, no sooner discovered that her 
husband was fretting himself ill for envy that he could 
not obtain Naboth's vineyard, than she wrote false letters, 
and bribed some wicked men to go and bear false witness 
ao^ainst the innocent Nabotli, declarino; that Naboth had 
blasphemed God and the king. So Naboth was stoned to 
death, and the wicked king took possession of the vine- 
yard he had coveted. His wicked action brought him no 
enjoyment, for God sent a prophet to meet him in the 
vineyard, and to tell him what dreadful judgments He 
would send upon him and his family. Ahab was killed 
in battle some time after, and was succeeded by his son 
Ahaziah, also an ungodly prince, and a worshipper of idols. 
Once Ahaziah fell through the lattice of an upper cham- 
ber, and hurt himself grievously. He sent messengers to 
inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, whether he might 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. -. qh, 

recover of liis injuries ; but Elijah tlie prophet met them 
on their way, and desired the messengers to return and 
tell the king that he should never again come down off 
his bed. Ahaziah then sent a captain with fifty soldiers, 
to fetch Elijah; and Elijah, instead of going down, sat 
upon a hill, and called down fire from lieaven ; and God 
sent down fire from heaven, and consumed the captain 
with his fifty men. Then Ahaziah sent a second captain, 
Avith his fifty; and again did Elijah call down fire from 
heaven, and consumed them. The king sent out a third 
captain Avith his fifty soldiers, and, because he cried to 
Elijah for mercy, Elijah spared their lives, and went down 
with them to the king, and there he told Ahaziah that he 
should surely die. After Ahaziah's death, Jehoram, his 
brother, reigned over Israel. He Avas not quite so sinful 
as the rest of the kings of Israel. He made a friendship 
Avith Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Avho Avas married to his 
sister Athaliah, and these tAVO kings subdued the Moab- 
ites, Avho had rebelled. Then came the Syrians to Avar 
against Israel, and God j^jermitted Elisha, another of his 
pro])hets, to disclose the plans of the Syrians to the king 
of Israel. And Avhen the king of Syria discovered this, 
he sent an army to take Elisha prisoner ; but Elisha smote 
them all Avith blindness, and then led them as captives 
into the midst of Samaria; and Avhen their eyes Avere open- 
ed, the Syrians found themselves in the presence of the 
king of Israel. The ]dncr asked Elisha Avhat he should do 

29 



198 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



to the men, and Elislia told him to give them food and 
send them l^ack to their master. Benhadad, however, was 
not grateful for this generous conduct; he laid siege to 
Samaria, and shut it up so closely that the poor j)eople 
were all nearly starved for w^ant of food ; they could not 
get out of their gates to buy any provisions, and so horri- 
ble was the famine, that the poor mothers ate their own 
children to appease their hunger. When the king saw to 
what misery they were reduced, he threatened to kill Eli- 
sha as the cause of it, but Elisha told him that the next day 
food would be plentiful. That same night the Lord fright- 
ened the Syrian army so that they fled, and left behind 
them all their provisions : and the Israelites went out and 
plundered the tents, and took the food, and all the gar- 
ments and valuables the Syrians had left. 

In due time, the Lord brought to pass the judgments 
He had pronounced against the descendants of Ahab. He 
sent Elisha to a young captain named Jehu, and desired 
him to anoint him king of Israel ; and then Jehu went at 
once to Jezreel, and he shot Jehoram through the heart, 
and made himself king. And when Jezebel, the king's 
mother, looked out at a window, Jehu called out and de- 
sired her attendants to throw her down ; and they threw 
her out of the window ; and Jehu trampled her under the 
feet of his horses, so that the dogs devoured her, as the 
prophet Elijah had foretold. Jehu then destroyed all the 
children of Ahab, and his grandchildren, and caused all 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. 



199 




DEATH OF JEZEBKL, 



the worshippers of Baal to be put to death. Jehu him- 
self did many wicked acts, and permitted his subjects to 
worship the golden calves I spoke of before. After his 
death the crown came to his son Jehoahaz, who, by his sins, 
incurred the anger of the Lord ; and the Syrians oppressed 
the Israelites, so that they were obliged to dwell in tents. 
After Jehoahaz, reigned Joash, his son. Although Joash 
was not a good man, he was a great warrior, and gained 
three victories over the Syrians, and even conquered 
Amaziah, king of Judah ; and, as we have before read, he 



200 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Spoiled tlie temple and carried off the treasures. His son, 
Jeroboam, also followed the evil ways of his forefathers ; 
his people were oppressed by their enemies, but Jeroboam 
was a brave king, and fought for them, and recovered 
several towns which the Syrians had taken from the Jews ; 
and when he died there was great confusion, and no king 
was placed upon the throne for some years. At length 
Zachariah, the son of Jeroboam, was made king, but was 
killed after a reign of a few months ; and others filled the 
throne, for a few days or weeks, until the Assyrians over- 
ran the whole country, and took Samaria by storm, after 
a siege of three years, and took Hoshea, the king, prisoner, 
and shut him up, and carried away most of his subjects as 
captives, about the same time that the Jews were taken 
captives to Babylon. You know God had threatened the 
people that their kings would cause them great sorrow ; 
and yet He for many years bore ivith their ingratitude 
and wickedness, and beheld the very people for whom He 
had wrought such great wonders bowing down to blocks 
of wood and stone; but when they became too much 
hardened to understand His mercy, then the Lord suffer- 
ed their kingdom to be destroyed. Yet, upon their repent- 
ance and amendment, His merciful ear was open to their 
cry. He brought them, a small remnant, back again to 
their own land, and permitted them to rebuild the beau- 
tiful temple, prompted and assisted by their prophets, 
Ezra and Neheiniah. 



I r 
I I 



201 



pitlf |l0ur$ toit^ tlje ^lible. 



THE PROPHETS 



CHAPTER I . 

M E L C H I Z E D E K , BALAAM, AND GIDEON. 

ROM the time of Moses, the great leader who 
broiiglit the IsraeHtes out of Egypt, through 
aH the time of the judges and kings of Is- 
rael, it frequently hap2:>ened that the Lord 
made use of the mouths of men, whereby to 
announce his intentions towards the Jews. 
Thus men were sent from God to proclaim 
what the Lord would do for the deliverance 
or for the punishment of his people. Alas ! 
it was generally God's wrath for disobedience and idolatry 
that these good men had to announce ; for the Jews w^ere 
a hard-hearted and stubborn people. These men were 
called prophets. They were inspired by God's Spirit to 
foretell what would happen to others at a time when there 
was no Bi})le ; and some of these prophets suffered many 




n/^9 ^^^^ HOURS WITH THP: BIBLE. 

liardsliips for their love to God, and for doing his service. 
From their history we may learn how wonderfully God 
took care of his servants, and hoAV he preserved the lives 
of those who obeyed his words. 

The first pro23het mentioned in Scripture after the 
flood was Melchizedek, who Avas a prophet, a priest, and 
a king. He lived in the time of Abraham, whom he 
blessed, saying, " Blessed be Abram of the most high 
God." Moses was a prophet; indeed, he Avas in some 
respects the greatest of the prophets. Joshua, his suc- 
cessor, prophesied for the benefit of the people over whom 
God had appointed him to judge. After the death of 
Joshua, a prophetess, named Deboi-ah, dwelt under a 
palm tree ; and judged the j)eople of Israel, whom she 
directed to go out against their enemies, and to win a 
great battle. One of her songs, giving an account of the 
battle, and of God's mercy, is written in the Book of 
Judges. This song sets forth that it was God, and not 
the ten thousand fighting men of the Israelites, who had 
gained the victory ; for it is God alone who can enable 
us to conquer. Without his help we are lost. 

A very great example and warning is offered to us in 
the history of a prophet who lived at the time when the 
Israelites had not yet conquered Canaan. His name was 
Balaam. His history shows how a man may bring ruin 
on himself by being greedy and covetous. 

Balak, a heathen prince, who lived near the camp of 



THE PROPHETS. 



203 




BAJ.AAM AND THE ANGKJ,. 



the Israelites, before they reached the land of Canaan, 
ai)plied to Balaam, and offered him great gifts if he woidd 
curse the Lord's people. Balaam would liave done so for 
tlie sake of gain, had n(jt the Lord refused to let him go 
^N'itli the messengers. But afterwards, when he persisted 
in going on liis wicked errand, God sent an angel to meet 
him on the way with a drawn sword. The ai-^s on which 
Balaam rode sa^v the angel, though Balaam did not ; and 
three; times the ass turned aside out of the way to avoid 
the angel. Balaam struck the ass each tim(\ Tlie third 



204 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



time lie did this, God miraculously opened the mouth of 
this poor dumb beast, who spoke to Balaam, and justified 
her conduct. Balaam's eyes were opened, and he saw the 
angel, and said, " I have sinned." Then God sufi'ered 
Balaam to proceed on his journey, and told him that the 
words he was to speak should be put into his mouth. So? 
instead of cursing the Israelites, all his words M^ere words 
of blessing. He lost the reAvard that Balak had promised 
to bestow upon him, and was afterwards killed by the 
Israelites in their war with the Midianites. Gideon, the 
son of Joash, was another great prophet. The angel of 
the Lord found him threshing Avheat, and said to him, 
" Hail, thou mighty man of valour." And Gideon became 
a great leader of the Israelites, and proj)hesied. unto them. 




CHAPTER II. 

ABOUT THE PROPHET SAMUEL. 

A MITEL was the next j)rc)phet of whom 
we read in the Bible. At the time of 
his birth, the word of the Lord seldom 
came to his people, and no prophet seems 
to have been able to foretell events for 
some time, until God called Samuel, 
when he was but a little child, and told 
him what evil He would bring upon the 



THE PROPHETS. 



■201 




SAMUEr, ANOINTING DAVID. 



liigli priest Eli, and his disobedient sons, Ho2:)hni and 
Phinehas. After the death of Eli, Samuel was priest and 
ruler of the Israelites. lie helped them to fight against 
their enemies, the Philistines, and he judged the Israelites 
for many }'ears. While the}' h(*arkened to his voice and 
ol)eyed him, they Avere safe and happ}', because he taught 
them to love the Lord their (rod, and to serve him. 

The people became self-Avilled, discontented, and un- 
happy. The}' declared they woidd have a king of their 



r)^vp HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

own to rule over tliem. The 2:ood Samuel went to his 
God for counsel in all his difficulties; so he prayed to 
God to tell him what to do. God was very angry at the 
ingratitude of the Israelites ; but he granted their request, 
and told Samuel to anoint Saul, who was a very tall, fine 
young man, to be king over the people ; and, instead of 
being jealous or angry, Samuel tried very hard to teach 
Saul to do his duty as a king. After he had anointed 
Saul to be king over Israel, he taught the people their 
duty to their new king, and wrote it down in a book, to 
help them to remember it. 

Although Samuel knew that God would disappoint 
the people, and make Saul an occasion of much sorrow to 
his subjects, he called them together again not long be- 
fore his death, and talked to them very kindly and very 
solemnly. He reminded them how they had dwelt in 
safety without a king, and yet had not been content, but 
had insisted upon having one. And now he said, " Be- 
hold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have 
desired. If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and obey 
his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of 
the Lord, then shall ye also, and the king that reigneth 
over you, continue following the Lord your God. But if 
ye will not obey, then shall the hand of the Lord be 
against you, as it was against your fathers." And to prove 
that the words he spoke were put into his heart by God, 
Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent a storm 



THE PIIOIMIETS. 

of tlnmdcn* and rnin, and the people feared greatly, and 
acknowledged their sin. TIkui Samuel comforted them 
very kindly, promising tliat if they ^vould folloAv^ after 
(rod, all would be well. He continued — " Th(> Lord will 
not forsake his people, for his great nanie\s sake ; for it 
hath pleased the Lord to make }'ou his i)eople. Only fear 
the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heai't ; for 
consider what great things he hath done for you. But if 
ye shall still do wicked things, ye shall he consumed, hotli 
ye and your king." 

Tlien Samuel went home ; and he judged tlu^ people 
no more. But he lived long enough to see Saul proud 
and self-willed, bringing trouble on himself and his people, 
and going on from one disol)edience to anothei-, imtil he 
took upon himself to oifer sacrifices to (rod, instead of 
Avaiting for Samuel, who alone, as a priest and a prophet, 
ought to have done this. Then (lod sent Samuel to tell 
Saul that he was so much displeased at his pride and im- 
patience, that he would presently take away his kingdom, 
and give it to a better man than he. Samuel obeyed (lod, 
tliough he was very sorry in his heart for Saul, whom lie 
had loved very much ever since he had anointed him king. 
But the Lord told him not to mourn for Saul any longer, 
but to go and find a young shepherd lad named David, 
whom he shoidd anoint as king over Israel in the stead 
of Saul. And Samuel obeyed the Lord, and went and 
anointed David to be king; but David did not royally 



208 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



reign over tlie people until after the deatli of Saul. And 
Samuel . returned and dwelt at Ilamali, Avliere lie died, 
l)eing old and full of years ; and tlie Israelites mourned 
for Samuel many days. He had spent his long life in 
loving and serving God, and now his soul was taken to 
heaven to be happy with his Maker in glory. 



CHAPTER III. 



NATHAN AND OTHER PROPHETS. 

' ATHAX Avas a prophet who was sent to 
rej)roach king David when he fell into sin, 
and he also counselled and instructed him 
ho^v to I)uild a house for the Lord. But 
that same night, after he had spoken to 
David, the Avord of the Lord came to Na- 
than, and told him that David should not 
build the house which he w ished to build, 
but that his son should be a man of peace, 
and he should build a beautiful temple. And Nathan 
came and told David all that God had said. Some years 
after this, Nathan Avas appointed by God to anoint Solo- 
mon, the son of David, to be king in the room of his 
father; and Ave are told in the Bible hoAv Zadok the 
priest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed Solomon king; 
and all the ])eople cried, " (xod save king Solomon !" 




THE PROPHETS. 



200 




NATHAN THE PROPHET. 

One prophet there is whose name we do not know. 
He is- mentioned in the Bible only as "the disobedient 
prophet ;" and the history of his fate may be read with 
advantage by us all. God had given him the gift of pro- 
phecy, lie who had been endowed with that wonderful 
l)ower, so that he could tell what would happen, knew 
what was right ; but, alas ! he did that which was sinful, 
and God punished him for his sins. Kehoboam, the son 
of Solomon, who was anointed king after his father's 
deatli, displeased the peoj)le, so some of them rebelled 



,^-. ^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

against him, and chose another man, named JeroT)oam, to 
be king over them. This JeroLoam, who was styled the 
king of Israel, was a very Avicked maiL He not only fol- 
lowed false gods himself, but he persuaded the people 
that they need not go up to the holy temple at Jerusalem, 
where Rehoboam the king of Judah, dwelt, but that they 
would do better to worshi]) two golden calves that he 
had set up in Bethel and in Dan. One day, when he 
w^as burning incense upon one of these altars, God sent a 
]^rophet to warn him what would happen hereafter. And 
when the prophet spoke to the altar, behold, it was rent, 
and the ashes were poured out upon the ground. Then 
Jeroboam, in great anger, put out his hand to seize hold 
of the pro])het ; but, behold, the hand of the king was 
withered up in an instant, so that he had no more power to 
move it again. Jeroboam was greatly alarmed, and very 
penitent for his sin ; and he said unto the man of Grod, " In- 
treat for me that my hand may be restored me again." 

Wicked as he was, Jeroboam believed that Clod's pro- 
phet was able to do whatever God permitted; and he felt 
that his own prayers would be of no avail, because he 
had followed after idols, and had not worshipped the one 
true God^ and trusted in him. 80 the prophet besought 
the Lord, and the hand of Jeroboam Avas restored to him 
again. Then Jeroboam offered the man of God a reward, 
and wished him to go into his house and refresh himself; 
but the pro])het answered, " If thou wilt give me half 



THE PROPHETS. 



211 



thine house, I will not go in witli thee, neither will I eat 
bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was charged 
me by the word of the Lord, saying. Eat no bread nor 
drink water, nor return again by the v/ay thou earnest." 
So he returned home by a different road, and thus far all 




THE MEETING OF THE TWO PROPHETS. 



was well. The prophet had performed his errand, and 
had discharged his office faithfully. But now he grew 
careless, so that, in the time of temptation, he was not 



watching, and he fell. 



There met him by the way an old prophet. This old 



I 

HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. I 

AlA ' 

prophet had heard of the wonderful things that had been 
done in Bethel; and he followed after the man of God 
and persuaded him to return with him, saying, " Come 
home and eat bread with me." And when the man of 
God refused, the old. prophet again tempted him, by tell- 
ing him that an angel had appeared unto him, and told 
liim to bring the man of God back to his house, and there 
to provide him with bread and water. Now this was 
quite false, and the man of God should have hearkened to 
the words of the Lord, and to none other ; but he per- 
suaded himself that the words of the old prophet were 
true, because he wished to believe them ; and he went 
and ate with him. While they sat at table, there came 
a message from God, saying that the man who had diso- 
beyed the Lord should not be buried in tlie sej^ulchre 
of his fathers. 

And it came to pass that, as he rode homewards upon 
an ass, a lion came forth and slew him ; but the lion did 
not devour the dead body, nor did he kill the ass. The j 
lion was found standing by the side of the body, to the | 
surprise of all who heard it. This was the punishment of I 
disobedience. And ^vhen the old proj)het, who had de- 
ceived the man of God and lured him from his duty, heard 
what had happened, he mourned over him, and went after 
the body, and buried it in his own sepulchre. But his 
sorrow could not undo the mischief that had been done, | 
nor could his tears restore life to the disobedient prophet. 



12 



THE PROPHETS. 



213 



CHAPTER IV. 




.AI R E G Pt E A T PROPHETS. 

IRACLES and messages had no effect 
upon Jeroboam ; he still continued very 
wicked. Then God sent sickness and 
sorrow into his house. His little son 
was very ill indeed : and, in his trouble, 
Jeroboam remembered another prophet, 
named Ahijah, who had foretold his 
being made king many years before, and 
who was now a very old man. So lie 
sent his ^vife with a present, to ask the prophet God's 
will concerning the child ; and, although she disguised 
herself, because she did not wish to be known, Ahijah, to 
whom God had made his will known, heard her as soon 
as she reached the door, and cried out, " Come in, thou 
wife of Jeroboam; I know thee, and I have a fearful mes- 
sage unto thee from the Lord. God will punish Jeroboam, 
whom He hath made king over ten tribes ; He will send 
evil upon thy house, and on thy family ; the dogs shall 
eat their flesh in the city, and the birds shall eat their 
dead bodies in the field. But the child who is sick shall 
die in peace, and be buried and mourned, because he loves 
God ; and God in mercy will take him to heaven, and 
from the trouble to come. Go home, and when thou 

13 



214 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



comest tliither, tlie child shall die." And so it was, that 
as the mother's feet entered the door of the house, the 
Lord took away the soul of the child, and he was dead. 
This was another instance of God's showing His prophets 
what would be done in time to come. 

Some time after the death of Jeroboam, God raised up 
d very holy prophet, one of the greatest and wisest among 
all Avho Avere sent to the Jews. His name was Elijah. 
He lived in the days of Ahab, a very wicked king, who 
worshipj)ed idols, and one idol in particular, called Baal; 
and on account of this idolatry, God sent many troubles 
upon Ahab and his people. One of these trials was a 
sore famine. To show the people that it was not by 
chance that this sore calamity came upon them, God sent 
his prophet Elijah to tell Ahab that there should be nei- 
ther dew nor rain upon the land for a long time, and that, 
in conserpience of this, there would be neither corn, nor 
fruits, nor grass, nor even a drop of water to drink. All 
this came to pass ; but, for fear Ahab should ])ut him to 
death as the cause of this famine, Elijah was obliged to 
hide himself among the rocks. God, however, took care 
of him ; for near his hiding-place was a little brook, called 
Clierith, and for a long time the brook was well supj)lied 
with water, and ravens came every morning and every 
evening, and brought him ])read and flesh to eat. After 
a time, however, the l)rook was quite dried up ; but God 
did not suffer his servant to thirst, for the Avord of the 

14 



THE PROPllKTS. ^, ^ 

Lord came to Elijali, saying, " Arise, get thee to Zarcpliatli, 
wliicli heloiigetli to Zidoii, and dwell tkere ; behold, I 
have coinmaiided a widow woman there to sustain thee." 
So Elijali obeyed the voice of tlie Lord. And wlien he 
came to the gate of Zarejdiath, he saw a poor woman 
gathering sticks. He called to lier, and said, " Fetch me, 
I j)ray tliee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink ;'' 
and as she was going to fetch it, he called to her and said, 
" Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." 
And she said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a 
cake, but only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little 
oil in a cruse ;" and she went on to say that she was gath- 
ering a few sticks to bake a cake of this for herself and 
her son, and when that was done they must die of hunger. 
But Elijah told her not to fear, for tliat the barrel of meal 
should not waste, nor should the cruse of oil ftiil, until 
the Lord should send rain upon the earth. And it was 
as he had said. Upon this meal and this oil they were 
all supported many days. God, however, thought fit to 
try the poor woman's fiiith, and to show her the wonder- 
ful power of his prophet, by taking the life of her child. 
While Elijah al)ode in the house with her, her child died. 
She thought God had done this to punish her for her sins, 
and she ran to tell the prophet of her ^voe ; so he took 
the poor dead child out of his motluir's arms, and carried 
liim u[) to his own room, and there he prayed earnestly 
to God that the child miglit live again. And the Lord 



216 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




ELIJAH KAISETH THE WIDOW's SON. 

heard the prayer of Elijah, and the soul of the child came 
into him again, and he revived. . And Elijah brought 
down the child alive, gave him to his mother, and said 
to her, "See, thy son liveth !" And the woman said 
to Elijah, '^ Now by this I know that thou art a man 
of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is 
truth." 



16 



THE PROPHETS. 



217 



CHAP T E R V 




ELIJAH A N I) 



AB 



FTER til is God sent the prophet to meet 
Ahal), Avho, with 01)a(liali, the governor 
of his lioiise, was searchinc: throuij^h the 
Land for water and for grass for tlieir 
hoi'ses. Obadiah was a good man, and he 
was gLad when he saw Elijah ; but Ahal) 
hated Elijah, and asked him, " Art thou 
he that trou1)leth Israel f Elijah told 
Ahal) that the cause of the troubles was 
])ecause Aliab and his people were worshippei's of Baal ; 
" and now come with the pi-iests of Baal to Mount Car- 
mel," he said, " and let us see who is the true God." So 
Ahab and all his wicked prophets, four hundred and fifty 
of them, came to meet Elijah, and many of the peoj)le 
of Isi'ael were there also. Then Elijah said to them all, 
" Choose now this day whom ye wnll serve. If Baal be 
the true God, serve Baal ; but if God be the Lord, then 
follow him." And he commanded the priests of Baal to 
build an altar, and to put wood upon it ; to put no fire 
under, but to call upon Baal to answer them by sending 
fire, if he were really God. But they waited, and prayed, 
and called upon Baal in vain, for there was no fire come 



HALF HOUKb WITH THE BIBLE. 

218 

upon the sacrifice. Then they l)ecame desperate, and cut 
themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed 
out upon them. Baal, who was only an idol of wood or 
stone, could neither hear nor answer them. Then Elijah 
built up an altar and laid a bullock upon it, and j^oured 
water upon it ; and then he prayed to his God, the Lord 
God of Israel. And the Lord heard the prayer of Elijah, 
and he sent fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice 
and the wood, and dried up the water ; and the people 
who saw it cried aloud, " The Lord, he is God ! the Lord, 
he is God!" Then Elijah commanded those who really 
believed in God to put all the followers of Baal to death, 
and they did so ; but Ahab and his people w^ere spared. 
And not long after this, God sent rain upon the earth in 
answer to the seven times repeated prayer of his holy 
prophet. There came a little cloud out of the sea like 
a man's hand, and it spread over all the sky, and the rain 
gushed plentifully down. But, although all the people 
w^ere thankful, Jezebel, the wicked wife of AhaT), sought 
to kill Elijah. After having been fed by an angel, and 
afterwards enabled to fast forty days, Elijah w^as sent to 
anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, and Jehu to be king of 
Israel ; and Elisha, a good man, wdio was ploughing in the 
field, to be his servant, that he might learn to prophesy 
after Elijah should have gone. 

Very peaceful and glorious was the departure of the 
good and righteous Elijah. When God had no long(3r 

18 



THE PROPHETS. ,^-. ^ 

any work for him to do, He suffered liiiii to go to Bethel, 
accompanied by Elisha, the servant whom he had chosen, 
and he told him that he was going away to heaven, but 
that after he was gone Elisha would have to do God's 
messages in his place. And all the prophets knew that 
God was going to take Elijah from the earth : but Elisha 
could not l)ear to speak or to hear about losing his dear 
master, l:)ut he watched and listened to all Elijah 
said and did ; and he saw him smite the waters of the 
river Jordan with his mantle, and the waters divided, so 
that Elisha and his master walked over on dry ground. 
And when Elijah asked him what he should give him, or 
what he should do for him before they parted, Elisha 
answered, " Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon 
me." But Elijah could not give the Holy Spirit to his 
servant. No ; he could only pray to God to bestow his 
grace upon him. And while he was talking to him, and 
giving Elisha good advice, there ap^^eared beside them 
horses of fire, and a chariot of fire ; and Elijah was taken 
away from Elisha, and carried up into heaven in a whirl- 
wind ; And Elisha could only cry after him, saying, " My 
father, my father ; the chariot of Israel and the horsemen 
thereof!" When Elisha could no lono:er see his master, 
he rent his clothes, and gathered up the mantle that had 
fallen from Elijah, and he carried it in great anxiety to 
the bank of the river. He lono-ed to know whether hie 
prayer had been granted ; and he smote the waters of 

19 



220 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BTBLR. 




ELISHA IN THE FIERY CHARIOT. 



Jordan witli the mantle, as Elijah had done; and, behold, 
the waters fled back as they had done before, and Elisha 
crossed on dry land. He felt that God had granted the 
y)rayers of Elijah, and he knew that His Spirit would 
enable him to work miracles : and the other prophets saw 
it, and said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha," 
and they treated him with great respect. And Elisha 
was enabled, l)y God's Spirit, to work many miracles for 
the sons of the prophets. While he was at Jericho, the 
people were grieving because their land was barren, and 



20 



THE PROPHETS. .-),^-j 

the waters were hitter ; so, when Elisha heard their com- 
})haints, he said, " Bring me a cruse of salt ;" and he went 
to the spring of the waters and thre^v in the salt, and 
said, " Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters. 
There shall be no more dry and barren land." And this 
was found to be true ; the people now had fertile land 
and good, pure water. And, as God gave liim power to 
help the needy, so he had also the means of 2)unishing the 
wicked. Some wicked children followed him, jeering and 
mocking at him, and crying, " Go up, thou bald-head !" 
Then Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord ; and 
there came two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty- 
two of them to pieces. 

The poor widow of one of the prophets came to Elisha 
in great distress, because her husband had died in debt. 
The person to whom the money was due, finding that the 
widow had nothing ^v^herewitli to pay him, had threaten- 
ed to sell both her sons for slaves. Elisha pitied this 
poor woman ; he said, " What hast thou in the house V 
She replied that she had only a pot of oil. Elisha told 
her to borrow of her neighbours a great many empty ves- 
sels ; and when she had obtained them, he told her to go 
home, and shut the door, and to fill as many of these ves- 
sels as she could from the pot of oil ; and when she had 
filled them, there was still as much oil left in the pot 
as before. God multiplied it, as he had done the meal 
of the poor widow at Zarephath. When all the vessels 



! 1 

I I 
■ i 



222 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE WIDOW S on. MULTIPLIED 



were filled, Elisha told the widow to sell the oil, and first 
to pay her debts, and then there would be still money to 
supply the wants of the family. Elisha was always glad 
to show kindness to the poor and humble, and he Avas 
grateful to those who were kind to him. A good woman 
at Shunem always kept a room ready for him, and was 
pleased when he went to her house. She had no child, 
and Elisha, wishing to show his gratitude to her, asked 
God to give her a son. She was very happy, and thank- 
ed God and Elisha for this dear child. One day the child 



THE PROPHETS. 

went out in the field with his father, and he was ill, and 
cried to his father, '' My head, my head !" and he sat on 
his mother's knees till noon, and then died. When the 
poor mother saw that her child was dead, she carried him 
up, and laid him on Elisha's bed ; and then she went to 
find the prophet and tell him her grief. As soon as the 
good man knew what had happened, he sent his servant, 
Gehazi, to go before and lay his staff upon the child's 
face ; but the child was stiff and cold. Elisha followed 
with the poor mother, and he went in, and j^rayed to God 
to restore the child to life. He was not able of himself 
to raise the dead, but God heard his prayers, and the 
breath came back into the body of the dead child ; and 
he called the woman, and said, " Take up thy son." Her 
child was alive and well, and she bowed herself to the 
ground in thankfulness, and took up her child, and went 
out. At another time he found the sons of the j^rophets 
almost starving: with huno:ei\ for there was a famine in 
the land. He advised them to make some pottage, or 
vegetable soup, into which, by accident, one of the men 
put some poisonous herb, and when they came to eat it 
together, they cried out, " There is death in the pot !" 
Hungry as they were, they knew that the poison would 
kill them ; so they dared not eat of it until Elisha cast 
some meal into it, which made it good and wholesome. 
God it was, and not the meal, who removed the poison ; 
but on this account did Elisha receive the more honour 



cfc,^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

from those who beheld the miracle. He had a kind friend, 
who j)rovided him with food during the famine ; but Eli- 
sha would not keep all for himself, and he fed an hundred 
men with a few loaves, and when they had satisfied their 
hunger, some was left for another day. One of his great- 
est deeds was when he cured the leprosy of Naaman, a 
rich captain from the land of Syria ; but he would take 
no reward for this, and because Gehazi, his servant, told 
a lie to induce Naaman to give him money and garments, 
he was made the instrument of punishing this Gehazi, 
who was covetous, false, and deceitful. Although Elisha 
knew God would punish him in another world if he did 
not repent, yet he brought a dreadful punishment upon 
him: Gehazi was smitten with leprosy, that he might 
prove an example to others. 

In time, the proj)hets, who were very numerous, came 
and asked Elisha to let them build a dwelling-place on 
the banks of the Jordan ; and, while they were cutting 
down wood, the axe, which was made of iron, slipped, 
and fell into the river. The man was very sorry, and ran 
to Elisha, saying, " Alas, master !" for it was borrowed, 
and he was too poor to buy another. Elisha was always 
ready to help the jioor and unfortunate. He had no 
money to give him, but he cut down a stick, and threw 
it into the water just where the heavy iron had sunk 
down, and the axe head rose directly to the top, and 
swam on the water. Then Elisha said, "Take it up;" 

24 



THE PROPHETS. oon 

and tlie poor man went thankfully to his work again. 
God's powoi', at Elisha's ^vord, made a heavy piece of 
iron to swim; and the ])eople, who saw the miracles which 
Elisha i^erformed, respected him, and feared God. And 
soon after this the king of Syria, having discovered that 
Elisha was aide to reveal all his doings and his move- 
ments to Joram, the king of Israel, whom he was trying 
to conquer, sent, therefore, his soldiers by night to take 
Elisha prisoner. The servant of this good man was fright- 
ened when he saw the city surrounded with soldiers and 
horses ; but Elisha, who trusted in God, was not afraid. 
lie first opened the eyes of his servant to behold the 
chariots and horses of fire which God had placed around 
to protect them, and he afterwards struck the whole army 
of the Syrians with blindness, and in this state he led 
them into the heart of the city, and there he prayed to 
God to open their eyes again. You may believe the 
Syi'ians were much alarmed when they found themselves 
surrounded by their enemies; but, instead of having them 
put to death, he advised the king to give them meat and 
drink, and let them go home to tell the wonderful story. 
But, when the famine grew sore in the land, the foolish 
king of Israel began to fancy that Elisha was the cause 
of the famine, for the enemies were all round the city, 
lieaded by their king. So he came and threatened to put 
Elisha to death, but Elisha had no fear : he only told the 
king and his followers that food should be plentiful " by 

25 



226 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




ELISHA ON HIS DEATH BED. 

this time to-morrow." One nobleman would not believe 
this, and the next day, when the words of Elisha came 
true, he was trodden to death in the crowd. After per- 
forming many other miracles, and serving God very faith- 
fully for many more years, he fell ill and died, and was 
buried ; but even after his death God made manifest the 
wonderful powers with which he had invested this good 
man ; for, long after, as the Israelites were burying a man, 
they were surprised by some robbers. They threw the 



26 



THE PROPHETS. 



227 

body of the dead in their fright into the tomh of Elisha, 
and ran away; hut no sooner did the dead body foil 
upon the l)ones of Elisha, than the man was restored to 
life, so that even the bones of Elisha were honoured and 
esteemed. 

Some time after Elisha's death, the Ten Tribes of Israel 
were carried into captivity, and during the years of capti- 
vity God raised up to them two prophets, named Ezra 
and Nehemiah. They assisted the Jews to rel)uild the 
" Temple," after their return to their own land. Each of 
them wrote a })ook, which is called after the name of the 
pro])het, and although they did not live before others 
that are afterwards mentioned, they are first placed in the 
Bible, and therefore I mention them here also. 



27 



228 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



CHAPTER VI, 




THE REMAINING PROPHETS. 



HE 



story of Jon all is full of interest. He 
was not so good a man as Elisha, but lie 
was sent by God to preaeli to the people of 
Nineveh, and to tell them what punishment 
God would bring upon them if they contin- 
ued in sin ; but Jonah was disobedient, and 
got into a ship, and tried to sail away into 
another country. Then God sent a fright- 
ful storm, and Jonah was cast into the sea, 
and swallowed by a large fish, which God had prepar- 
ed to swallow him ; and for three days and nights God 
kept him alive in the belly of the whale, until God order- 
ed the fisli to cast Jonah up on the dry land again. Jonah 
^vas humbled by this punishment, and grateful for his 
deliverance, so he made haste to go to Nineveh and fulfil 
the Lord's commands. 

After him arose a good prophet, named Isaiah, who 
wrote a great many chapters in the Bible, and foretold 
the birth and sufferings of the Messiah ; and he was sent 
with messages to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and with 
Avords of warning to the people of Israel and Judah. 

The next book was written by a prophet called Jere- 
miah, Avdio was descended from Aaron. He prophesied 
for several years, principally foretelling the miseries God 
would bring upon the Jews. as 



THE PROPHETS. 



229 




JONAH WAS CAST INTO THE SEA. 



Ezekiel foretold the ruin of tlie Jews and of their 
enemies, and promised that after their captivity God 
would visit his people. 

Daniel, a young Jewish prince, and a captive, was call- 
ed to interpret a very wonderful dream, wdiicli had troul)- 
led the mind of King Nebuchadnezzar, and which none 
of the king's astrologer's or magicians were able to com- 
prehend. But God revealed the meaning to Daniel during 
the night, and when he had interpreted the dream the 
king fell upon his face and worsliip])ed Daniel and his 



r)OA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

God ; and lie gave him gifts, and made him ruler of the 
whole province. Daniel afterwards interpreted to Bel- 
shazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, the meaning of some 
words that were traced upon the wall by a part of a hand 
during a feast given by the king, and that night the king- 
dom was taken by Darius, the Mede, and Belshazzar was 
slain, even as Daniel had foretold. Darius, the concpieror, 
having heard of the wonderful talents of Daniel, made him 
a chief ruler among the people, and had intended to put 
the whole kingdom under him. This made others jealous 
and envious ; but because they could find no fault in Dan- 
iel, nor aught to accuse him of, they persuaded the king 
that no person should ask anything for thirty days, save 
of the king himself; and the king listened to their foolish 
counsel, and made a decree that whosoever should break 
the law should be cast into the den of lions. 

The fear of this dreadful death did not deter Daniel 
from praying three times a day. So the envious princes 
told the king that Daniel " regarded neither the king nor 
the decree which he had signed," and that he must be 
put to death. In vain did the king regret the folly he 
had been guilty of, and strive all day to find some means 
of saving Daniel ; for his word's sake, he was obliged to 
have him cast into the den of lions, which was covered 
with a stone, and sealed with the king's seal. God, how- 
ever, shut the mouths of the lions, so that Daniel took no 
harm ; and Darius the king was overjoyed to find him 



THE PROPHETS. 



231 




DANIEL CAST INTO THE DEX OF LIONS. 

alive in the morning. And lie made a decree that all the 
people of the kindom should fear and tremble before the 
God of Daniel, for that there was no other God, who 
could deliver after this manner. So Daniel lived in hon- 
our, and prophesied many years ; and the book in which 
these things are written is called by his name. 

The books of Hosea and Joel follow. Many and sad 
are the denunciations against Egypt and the enemies of 
the Lord's people. 

Amos also denounces vengeance upon the enemies of the 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

Jews ; he warns his fellow-countryiiien of their sins, of idol- 
atry, their ingratitude, and their contempt of the Sabbath. 

Obadiah wrote one short prophecy, predicting Christ's 
kingdom. 

Micah strove hard to convince the Jews of their sin 
and danger, and bring them to repentance. His book 
also foretells the coming and the mercy of Christ. 

Nahum writes principally a]>out the fall of Nineveh. 

Habakkuk mourns over the wickedness of the Jews, 
and concludes his book with a beautiful prayer to God, 
in whom he rejoices. 

Zephaniah foretold the desolation of Judah and Jerusa- 
lem, and predicted the future glory of the Jewish nation. 

Haggai is supposed to have flourished during the ciii> 
tivity of the Jews in Babylon ; but his prophecies were not 
made j)ublic until sixteen years after their return to Canaan 
when he encouraged them in rebuilding their Temple. 

Zechariah was a prophet who aided Haggai in his 
efforts to direct the Jews, and to bring them to repent- 
ance. He mentions nine different visions which had been 
revealed to him by God ; and 23reaches to them of deliv- 
erance, and of the triumphs of the Gospel. 

Malachi, though last mentioned in the Bible, is not 
positively the last prophet who prophesied to the Jews. 
He forbade, in God's name, their heathen marriages and 
other things which were displeasing to God, and warned 
diem of the coming of OUR LOED JESUS CHRIST. 

32 



233 



pitlf Doitrs h)it| !|e ^ihlt 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



— #> ♦ 




CHAPTER I . 



THE CHILDREN ISHMAEL AND ISAAC 



AM 



going to tell you some short stories 



about the good cliiklren that are mentioned 
in tlie Bible, that you may hear what hap- 
pened to them ; and then you may all try to 
follow their good examples. Solomon, who 
was a very wise king, has Avritten, " Even a 
child is known by his doings, whether his 
work be pure, and whether it be right." 

The heart of a cliild is like a garden in spring-time, all 
ready to bring forth flowers and fruit, according to the seed 
that is planted therein. The good seed is the instruction 
that is given by kind parents and teachers; but if this good 
seed do not sink into the heart, there grow up evil weeds 



OQ^ HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

— pride, obstinacy, and deceit. Now, just as tlie gardener 
watctes for these weeds, to pull tbem up so soon as they 
appear, so should every child watch and pray to be deliv- 
ered from sin, and try to pluck out each bad feeling from 
its heart. Then be grateful, dear children, to those who 
teach you, and lielp you to store your minds in early youth; 
because where good lessons are unlearned, there is the more 
room left for evil thoughts and bad feelings to grow. 

The best store of knowledge that can make even a little 
child wise and good is to be found in the Holy Scriptures ; 
and our Lord Jesus Christ said to those who came to hear 
him, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have 
everlasting life ; and those are they which testify of me." 

Ishmael is the first child mentioned in the Bible ; he 
was a son of Abraham and of a bondwoman named Hagar, 
who lived with Sarah, Abraham's wife. Ishmael was a 
quick, clever boy, and was very kindly treated by Abra- 
ham ; but it came to pass that God gave Sarah a son, ac- 
cording to His promise. Ishmael was at that time old 
enough to know right from wrong, and to refrain from giv- 
ing offence by his conduct; but he behaved very rudely, 
and roughly mocked at his little brother, and also at Sarah ; 
so that to appease Sarah, who was very angry, Abraham 
was obliged to send him away with Hagar his mother. 
They would both have perished of thirst and heat in the 
wilderness, had not God in His mercy sent an angel to Ha- 
gar to show her a well of water ; and the angel comforted 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 9ocr 

her, and told her that God Avoiild make Ishmael the head 
of a great nation. So the child was spared, and he lived 
to be a great and rich prince among the Arabs. 

Meanwhile Isaac, who was called the child of pi'omise, 
and with reason, for he had been promised by God to 
Abraham and Sarah, and was also to inherit the promi- 
ses made by God to Abi'aham, grew np. He was good 
and gentle, and obedient to his parents in all things. 
When he was grown a great lad, God wished to try the 
faith of both Abi'aham and Isaac. He knew the liearts of 
both, but still he made a trial of the love of the one, and 
of the obedience of the other. To prove that Abraham 
really loved his God more than he loved his only child, 
God ordered the kind father to take his son and offer him 
up, as lambs and other animals used to be offered on an 
altar, as a sacrifice to Him. Abraham saddled his ass, cut 
down wood for burnt offering, and went to the land of Mo- 
riah, where God had told him to offer this terrible sacrifice. 
When they came to the place, Isaac carried the wood, upon 
which his father intended to sacrifice him; and he suffered 
himself to be bound, and laid upon the altar ; and Abra- 
ham stretched forth his hand, armed with a knife, to slay 
his son, whom he loved, because God had commanded it. 
But when God had thus proved his faithful servants. He 
stayed the hand of Abraham, just as he had raised the 
knife to slay his darling son; and God, by the mouth of an 
angel, showed him a ram that was caught by the horns, in 



ct^n HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

Zoo 

a thicket close by ; and tlie Lord told Abraham to offer up 
this ram as a sacrifice instead of his son. 

And God made a promise to Abraham, saying, '^Be- 
cause thoa hast not withheld from me thy son, thine only 
son ; in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will 
multiply thy seed (or family) as the stars of heaven, and 
as the sand which is upon the sea shore, because thou hast 
obeyed my voice.''^ 



CHAPTER II. 

THE CHILDHOOD OF JOSEPH. 

OSEPH, the grandson of Isaac, was the eldest 
son of Kachel his mother, who died wdien he 
was young ; wherefore, he became the favor- 
ite child of the patriarch Jacob, his father; 
who loved him so very dearly, that he in- 
dulged him more than all the rest of his 
children ; and he gave him a pretty coat 
of many colors. This roused the jealousy and ill-will of 
Joseph's brothers. Each new proof of their father's affec- 
tion to Joseph made them hate him the more bitterly. 

However, the good little Joseph dreamed two very 
wonderful dreams, which he related to his brethren ; they 
were indeed dreams sent by God, to prepare the mind of 
Joseph for the changes that would occur. His dreams 




THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. ^qfr 

foreshadowed tliat bis father and brethren would one day 
bow down before him. His brethren, and even his father 
rebuked him, for supposing that any such things as he fore- 
told were likely to occur. But the envy of his brethren 
Avas now so great that they determined to kill the poor 
l)oy. So one day, when he went out to them in the field 
where they were keeping their flocks at some distance from 
homo, they wished to put him to death. One of the breth- 
ren, named Reuben, tried to save him, and advised them 
to cast him into a deep pit. Reuben intended to take Jo- 
seph out w^hen they went aw^ay, and to take him back to 
his father. As for the others, they would have left him 
in the pit to starve, or be devoured by wild beasts. But 
while they were sitting together eating and drinking, there 
came by a company of Midianites. To these men they sold 
their brother Joseph as a slave for twenty pieces of silver; 
then they killed a kid, and dipped his pretty coat into the 
blood, to make it appear that the boy had been killed by 
some wild beast. They brought the coat to Jacob their 
father, and said, " This have we found ; see wdiether it be 
thy son's coat or no." And the poor father knew the coat. 
He said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured 
him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." And he 
refused to be comforted, and wept bitterly for his son. 
What lesson must we learn from this story? To be meek 
and quiet, forgiving and submissive ; for we never find that 
Joseph, either in word or in deed, returned the ill-will of 
his unkind brothers ^ 



238 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER III. 

THE CHILD SA]\IUEL. 

T is very pleasant to write and to read about 
the childhood of Samuel, the great prophet 
in Israel, He was indeed a good and happy 
child: the meaning of his name is "Asked of 
God." His mother, who had no children, 
prayed very earnestly to God for a child ; 
and Gocl, after he had tried her patience for 
some time, gave her a little son, whom she called Samuel. 
Hannah sang a psalm to God in her joy ; she was so thank- 
ful to her Heavenly Father for this child, that she resolved 
to make the boy God^s servant as soon as he could speak. 
When he was only four years old, she brought him to Eli, 
the high priest, at Shiloh. The Jews had different formr> 
of religion from ours; that is, they worshipped God in a 
different manner; and the high priest was at the head of 
their religious ceremonies, and taught the people what they 
must do. Therefore, he lived almost always in the house 
of God: and Hannah wished this good man to teach her 
little son how to serve the Lord Jehovah. So she placed 
him under Eli's care, to be taught ; but every year she came 
up to see her beloved child ; for she lived a long way off 
from Shiloh ; and she used to bring him a present of a little 
diess, made of linen. This dress was similar to those worn 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



239 




SAMUEL AND ELI. 



It had long sleeves, and came down to his 



by the priests. 

feet, and was called an "ephod." And so Samuel dwelt 
with Eli ; he was a happy child as he ministered or waited 
upon Eli, and upon the Lord, whose eyes are ever open, 
beholding the evil and the Cfood; but while the Lord was 



240 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



pleased to behold the seeds of good that were daily expand- 
ing in the boy's young heart, He beheld with grief and dis- 
pleasure the bad conduct and wickedness of the two sons of 
Eii. This old man loved his God, and in many ways served 
Him truly ; but he over indulged his own children. When 
they did evil in their childhood, their father was too fond of 
them to correct or punish them as he ought to have done ; 
and as they grew older, they grew more and moi'e wicked, 
and disobeyed the commands of God and their kind parent: 
they cared for nothing but good eating and drinking, and 
their own pleasures and amusements; and thus they went 
on from bad to worse, w^hile their father said, " My sons, 
why do ye so ? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this 
people. Nay, my sons ; for it is no good report that I hear: 
ye make the Lord's people to transgress." By this he 
meant that the bad example of the high priest's sons led 
other people to do evil. But these wicked men paid no 
heed to the words of their Either, and they went on still 
more wickedly ; neither did a dreadful message which God 
sent to their father affect them at all. This was, that he 
should cause both of these sons to be killed in one day, and 
that none of Eli's family should be priests after him, because 
he had not controlled his children better. 

Yet for all this they went on in their sins ; until one 
night, w^hen Samuel was sleeping in his little bed some dis- 
tance from Eli, he heard a ^^oice calling, " Samuel ! " Sam- 
uel thought that Eli, who was now very old, and whosf? 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



241 



eyes were so dim that he could hardly see to wait upon 
himself, wanted him ; so he answered cj^uickly, " Here am I ;" 
and he jumped up and ran to Eli to know what he wanted. 

Eli, however, answered him, and said, " I called not, lie 
down again :" and the kind little boy obeyed Eli, and went 
and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, " Samuel !" 
and Samuel arose, and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; 
for thou didst call me." And Eli answered, " I called not, 
my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know 
the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord revealed unto 
him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time ; 
and he arose and went to Eli, and said, " Here am I ; foi* 
thou didst call me." And now Eli understood that the 
Lord himself must have called the child ; so he said unto 
him, ''■ Go, lie down ; and it shall be if He call thee again, 
that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord : for thy servant hear- 
eth :" so Samuel went and lay down in his place. 

When God called again, "Samuel, Samuel," then Sam- 
uel answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth." And 
very sorrowful were the words which the Lord spake unto 
the child ; for He told him of all the evil and punishment 
that He was going to bring upon Eli and his house, because 
the weak old man had not restrained his sons from sinnins: 
against Him. And the boy dreaded the task of telling Eli 
the sad truths that God had told him. He did not go near 
the old man, but went about his business, and began to 
open the doors round about the tabernacle. This was a 



242 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



part of Lis duty. However, when Eli called Samuel, the 
child obeyed at once, and, in answer to the questions of 
Eli, told him truly all the words that God had said unto 
him. And Eli, although he was a foolish, weak father, was 
resigned and submissive to the decrees and commands of 
God, however grieved he might have felt for all the sorrow 
that was threatened. He very meekly and properly re- 
plied, " It is the Lord : let him do what seemeth him good." 
Yes, Eli loved God, though he had done wrong, and he 
now knew that Samuel was a " prophet" — that is, a person 
to whom God shows the things that are to happen at a 
future time. And then God permitted the Philistines to 
make war against the Israelites, who told the priests to 
bring out the ark into the field ; for they wished to be very 
brave, and to fight like men. God was already displeased 
with His own people, so He suffered them to be conquered. 
A very, very great number of the Israelites were killed, 
and among them were Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of 
Eli, who had charge of the ark, which also fell into the 
hands of the Philistines ; and they carried it away to one of 
their own towns. Neither Eli nor Samuel went out to see 
the battle ; but the poor, blind old man sat waiting on a 
high seat by the gate of Shiloh ; for he was very anxious 
to hear tidings of the ark and of his disobedient sons. 
And when he heard the sounds of crying, and the tumult, 
he asked the reason. So a man told him, saying, " Israel is 
fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great 



10 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



243 



slaughter among tlie people, and thy two sons, Hophni and 
Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken." As soon 
as this poor old man ninety years of age and upwards, heard 
these sad tidings, and that the ark was taken, he fell down 




THE DEATH OF ELI. 



backwards off his high seat, and his neck was broken in 
the fall; so he died. Was not this a sad end for a man 
who had been God's high priest for so many years ? How 
grieved Samuel must have been for the loss of his kind 
friend ! But he strove the more earnestly to please and 



.^ . , HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLF, 

serve God ; and when the people beheld that the prophe- 
cies of this young servant of God came true, they honored 
him, and believed in his prophecies, and he lived many 
years as a judge and a prophet in Israel. I dare say you 
have learned the little hymn about this : — 

" When little Samuel woke, 

And heard his Maker's voice, 
At every word He spoke 

How much did he rejoice ! 
Oh, blessed, happy child, to find 
The God of Heaven so near and kind 1 

Like Samuel, let me say, 

Whenever I read thy word, 
' Speak, Lord, I would obey 

The voice that I have heard. 
And when I in thy house appear, 

Speak, for thy servant waits to hear.'" 

And this should be the prayer of your own lips, my 
children, that you may learn in your youthful days to hear 
the voice of God in your hearts, to love Him, and obey 
Him. 

I must now tell you something that happened when 
Samuel was an old man. God sent him to choose a very 
young lad, and to anoint him king over Israel. The merci- 
ful Lord had granted the prayers of his discontented peo- 
ple, and given them an earthly king, contrary to His own 
wishes; and then He suffered this king, who was named 

12 



niE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 9 ^r 

Saul, to act wickedly, aud to bring many troubles on his 
subjects. At length Saul became quite depraved, and God 
determined to put another king in his place. 

So God desired Samuel to fill his horn with oil, and go 
to Jesse the Beth-lehemite, and anoint one of his sons as 
king. Six sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, and yet he 
found that none of them were pleasing to the Lord. So he 
said to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" Then Jesse 
answered, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, 
he keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel desired Jesse to send 
for him ; and when David came before Samuel, he beheld 
only a boy, with a lovely color on his cheeks, and a sweet, 
pleasant smile, and eyes that looked full of love to God 
and every one. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him: 
for this is he." And Samuel anointed David kins:. Then 
Samuel ^vent back to his own house, and David returned 
to his occupation of keeping his father's sheep. For, although 
God gave His spirit to the good lad from that day. He did 
not wish to make him a kins: while Saul was alive. David 
had many things to do to win the love and trust of the Is- 
raelites before he must be their king. But God had chosen 
David while he was a mere child, because he knew the 
lad was humble, and honest, and brave ; and David used to 
love to play sweet psalms and holy songs upon his harp, to 
tell of God's wonders and mercies, and of his love to Him. 
The psalms that we read every day in our prayer books : 

13 



246 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




DAVID WITH HIS SHEEP. 



were some of the sweet songs that David used to sing while 
he was watching his sheep. 

How should we strive, when we read these psalms of 
praise and thanksgiving, to feel like David in our hearts, 
that we may deserve, through the blood of Jesus, to wear 
a crown of gold in heaven, which would be far better than 
to be a king or a queen on earth ! 




THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. c)a^ 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE CHILDHOOD OF JOASH. 

OME time after David's death, there was 
a little boy made king, his father Ahaziah 
having been killed. His grandmother, 
who was a very Avicked woman named 
Athaliah, endeavored to put all her grand- 
sons to death, in order that she herself 
might be made queen. One of them, how- 
ever, quite a baby, was hidden with his 
nurse for six years in the house of the 
Lord ; but when he was seven years old, the priests brought 
this little boy, Joash, into the temple ; and, having placed 
guards at every door, they put the crown upon his head, 
and all the peo2)le shouted, " God save the king." When 
the wicked queen came out to see the cause of rejoicing, 
she rent her clothes, and tried to escape , but the soldiers 
went after her, and put her to death. 

And Joash, under the care of the good high priest 
Jehoiada, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. 
He caused a chest to be made, with a hole bored in the 
lid, and placed it outside the gate of the Lord, that every 
one of the princes and people might put in what they 
pleased ; and thus they collected a great deal of money to 
pay for the repairs of the temple, and the priests offered 
burnt oflerings in the house of the Lord continually. 



248 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



The good old priest lived to be an hundred and thirty 
years old; but after his death, Joash, by degrees, learned 
to do evil. He listened to the flattery and foolish words 
of the princes of Judah ; and, forgetting all the kindnesses 
he had received from the good Jehoiada, he suffered Zecha- 
riah, the priest's son, to be stoned to death by these idola- 
tors, because he reproved them for their sins. How much 
the Lord must have been displeased with the ingratitude 
and cruelty of Joash ! 



'C^ 




CHAPTER V 



MORE BIBLE CHILDREN. 



MUST not forget to mention some children 
who are spoken of among the prophets, be- 
cause you will see that God at all times pun- 
ished the wicked, whether young or old, and 
rewarded the good. 

There was a very good man named Elijah, 
who was sent by God to live with a poor 
^ widow and her son during the time of the 

famine. This poor woman had only a little meal, and a 
very small quantity of oil; and just as the prophet Elijah 
came to her, she was going to make a little cake of this 
fearing it was the last meal they were ever likely to ge(, 
and knowing that they must soon die of hunger; however, 
she cheerfully obeyed the word of Elijah, when he desired 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



249 



her first to make a little cake for liim ; and, according to 
his promise, the barrel of meal and the oil lasted, although 
she used some every day, until the rain came and the famine 
was over. But during this time the little boy fell sick and 
died, and the poor mother grieved sorely. She feared that 
Elijah had caused the death of the child, as a punishment 
for the sins she had committed during her life. But Elijah 
took the child and carried him up into a loft, and laid him 
on his own bed. And there he prayed earnestly to God, and 
stretched himself three times upon the child, and cried to 
God, saying, " Oh, Lord, my God, I pray thee let this child's 
soul come into him again." And the Lord heard the prayer 
of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, 
and he revived. So Elijah carried him down to his mother, 
and said, ''See, tliy Son liveth." And the woman said, 
" Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and the 
word of thy mouth is truth." How could the widow help 
believing in God, or in his kind prophet Elijah, who had, 
in the first place, kept her and her son from dying of star- 
vation when many poor people went for days without food, 
or even water, for when there is no rain for a long time the 
water springs are dried uj); and, still more, for having 
made her child alive again? — You also should learn from 
this, that God can do all things. He can hear the softest 
prayer you make to him ; and He will, after your death, 
make you alive again if you love Him truly ; not to live 
again in this world, but to dwell with Him in heaven. No 



r)crA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

doubt, his good servant Elisha is also there ; he lived with 
Elijah a long time, and saw many wonderful things which 
he did ; and so, after God had taken Elijah to heaven. He 
sent His Holy Spirit upon this faithful servant, and He 
permitted Elisha to perform almost the same miracles that 
Elijah had done before. Elisha also restored a little boy 
to life whose mother had been kind to him. She had built 
a nice little room in her house on purpose for Elisha to 
sleep in whenever he pleased. 

How pleasant is was for him, when he returned from 
traveling about in God's service, to have a nice quiet room^ 
where he could pray and commune with his Maker ! Elisha 
wished very much to show himself grateful to this good 
woman, and, after thinking of various things to please her, 
he remembered, or rather his servant did, that perhaps she 
would like to have a child. So he sent to call her, and 
promised her a son; she was very pleased, and after the 
birth of her dear baby she loved Elisha and his God better 
than ever for having made her so happy : and she liked to | 
see hei" child grow strong, and run about after his father. 
One day, when he had become a great boy, he followed his 
father into the harvest field, to see the men reaping the 
corn: but the sun was very hot, and the poor child cried 
out, "My head, my head !" The father sent one of his ser- 
vants to carry the child home to his mother. He was in 
great pain ; his mother took him on her knees, and nursed 
him ; but, in spite of all her care, he died at twelve o'clock 



THE GOOD CHILDKEN OP SCEIPTUEE. 



251 




KLISIIA RAISING THK WIDOW S 6UX. 



Oil the same day. You may believe that she was in great 
grief for the loss of her only child. But in her trouble, 
she thought of her kind friend Elisha : she knew that he 
had prayed to God to give her this child : and perhaps she 
had heard that Elijah had restored the child of the poor 
widow. So she laid the body of her darling on Elisha's 
bed, and she shut the door, and begged her husband would 
let her have one of the asses to ride upon, that she might 
go in search of Elisha ; and he allowed her to go, and sent 
one of his servants with her. As soon as Elisha saw her 



19 



252 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



coming so quickly, he fancied something must have hap- 
pened, and he sent his servant to meet her, and ask if all 
was well ; and though her heart was almost breaking with 
sorrow, she answered, "It is well," for she knew that all 
was right that God did. But when she threw herself at his 
feet, and said, "Did I ask my Lord for a son?" the pro- 
phet undei'stood that her child was dead. And he went 
with the poor mother, and prayed to God, and he sti-etched 
himself over the child, and the child sneezed seven times, 
and then opened his eyes. And then Elisha called the 
happy mother, and told her "to take up her son." No 
doubt, the boy was taught by his mother to love Elisha, 
and to reverence one to whom God showed such favor. 

God also gave Elisha power to punish wicked children. 
He used to travel about from place to place where God 
sent him. He was no longer a young man, and his hair 
w^as thinned by age and toil. So one day, as Elisha w^as 
going up to a town where the people worshipped idols, a 
great many idle, wicked children came out of the city to 
play, and when they met Elisha they began to laugh at 
him, and to mock him, saying, "Go up, thou bald head; 
go up, thou bald head ! " 

Now^ God, who wdll not hold them guiltless who take 
His name in vain, was very angry with these wicked 
children, and Elisha was also angry. He turned round, 
and told them something dreadful would happen to them ; 
and scarcely had he spoken when two bears came rush- 



.1 I 
i 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



253 



Ing out of a wood near by, and tore forty-and-two of 
them to pieces. 

Teai's and screams were all in vain ; they could not run 
away from the punishment God had sent upon them, any 
more than you could run away from sickness or death. 
How careful you must be not to treat God's name, or any 
of His holy things, with mockery, for fear God should pun- 
ish you ! Neither should you laugh at the lame or the 
blind, nor at any one who is sent to teach you holy things. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE STORY OF THE LITTLE MAID ; ANITOF CTHER CHILDRFK. 

"^ ' T is, however, more pleasant to hear of good 
children and good people than naughty ones, 
so I shall change the subject, and tell you 
of a little captive maid, who had been car- 
ried away by the Syrians out of the land 
of Israel ; and she was a slave who waited 
upon Naaman's wife. Naaman was a great, 
rich, and honorable captain, but he had a 
bad disorder called leprosy. This little Hebrew girl loved 
her mistress and her master, but she remembered her God 
and His prophet Elisha, whom she reverenced and loved in 
her early home ; and she knew that Elisha could perform 
wonderful cures. She told her mistress, and at last Naaman 




254 IJ-^LF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

was persuaded to go to Israel ; and there, by God's mercy, 
he was sent by Elisha to wash in the river Jordan, and his 
leprosy was cured. See how much good was done by this 
pioas and affectionate little captive girl ! Remember that 
none are too young to be kind and thoughtful. 

Josiah was one of the good kings who came to the crown 
of Judah when he was only eight years old. He seems to 
have had a pious mother, and good advisei's, for the Bible 
says " he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," 
and turned not aside from "His ways," to the right hand, 
or to the left. As soon as he was old enough to give orders, 
lie had the Temple repaired. He caused the book of God's 
laws to be read in the hearing of the people, and ho des- 
troyed the temple of the idolaters, and kept a most solemn 
passover; and there was no Jewish king before or after 
him that turned to the Lord so faithfully as did the youth- 
ful Josiah. Should not his example be a precious one to 
you ? It shows you that even a young king may serve God, 
and make his people and his countrymen better and happier. 

God had not sent His dear Son down on earth to die, 
when these children were on earth, of whom I have been 
writing. But you know that more than eighteen hundred 
years ago He did come upon earth in the form of a little 
helpless baby, and was called Jesus; that He was worship- 
ped by the wise men in the stable at Bethlehem ; that He 
was saved from the vengeance of Herod by the flight of 
His mother into Egypt by night ; that He lived with His 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE, 



255 




FLIGHT INTO EOYPT. 

parents at Nazareth, and was subject, or obedient, to them, 
growing daily in wisdom and strength, and the grace of 
God was upon Him. When He was only twelve years old, 
He was found in the Temple, sitting amidst the most clever 
men of those times, both Ifstening to their discourse, and 
asking them Cjuestions, so that all that heard him were 
astonished at His understanding and His answers. 

Jesus, however, immediately answered to the call of His 
mother, and retiirned with her to a humble home at Naza- 
reth, where He set to all children an example of dutiful 

23 



256 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



conduct and humility. And such are the children that 
Jesus loves. When He was on earth He showed His love 
even for the youngest child. He was pleased when their 
mothers brought their little children to His feet. He took 




CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. 

them in His arms ; He put His hands on them, and blessed 
them, saying, " Suffer little children to come unto me, and 
forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."" 
And though Jesus now lives in heaven, on His bright 
throne. He still loves little children. He calls them to 
come to Him by prayer, and by faitli, and by love ; and 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



25* 



wLile on earth He condescended to go to the house of the 
ruler, and restore to life his little daughter, lie took her 
by the hand, and said unto her, " Maid, I say unto thee, 
aiise ;" and He restored her to her parents. 




MARY AND MARTHA AND JESUS, HERE. 

Jesus was kind to the mothers of these children. He 
loved his own mother IVIary, although she was hut a poor 
woman, and He was the Son of God. Mary Magdalene, 
Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and the poor 
widow, the woman who had faith, and was cured by touch- 
ing his garment, all loved him. He taught the truth to 



258 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




DAVID AND ABIGAIL. 

the woman of Samaria; to the Syrophenician woman He 
restored her sick daughter, and to many others He showed 
mercy. There are also several good women mentioned in 
the Bible who deserve to be noticed in this book. 

One is Abigail, who showed kindness to the good King 
David, when her husband Nabal refused to supply his fol- 
lowers with bread and water in their need. Abigail no 
sooner heard what had happened than she hasted to go 
forth and meet David with corn and wine, and two hund- 
red loaves of bread, with raisins and figs, and other neces 



26 




THE GOOD CHif.UREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



251) 




RL'TH AND NAOMI. 



saries, and she bowed herself before David, who was just 
uttering threats against Nabal and his house, and she beg- 
ged him to accept her offering. So David blessed Abigail 
for liaving prevented bloodshed ; and, after her husband's 
death, he sent for Abigail, and married her. 

Kutb, too, the dutiful daughter, who refused to leave 
her widowed mother-in-law, but followed her into a strano:e 
land, and worked for and comforted hei\ God did not 
suffer her filial duty to go unrewarded, for he caused her to 
find favor in the eyes of Boaz, a wealthy farmer, in whose 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



fields she went to glean corn for lier mother's use; and 
afterwards she became his wife, and the mother of a son, 
from whom Jesus descended. 

Esther, a beautiful young Jewess, had been born while 
the Jews were in captivity ; but her beauty and modesty so 
pleased the King Ahasuerus, or Artaxerxes, as he is some- 
times called, that he made her his queen. This king had a 
minister, named Haman, who greatly disliked the Jews, 
not knowing that the Queen was a Jewess ; he persuaded 
the king that the Jews were going to rebel against him, 
and advised, him to put them all to death. The king gave 
his (fonsent to this : and when Mordecai, the queen's uncle, 
heai'd this, he went to the palace gate in mourniug, and 
when Esther sent to know the cause, he told her that she 
and all her people were to be put to death by the king's 
order, unless she could save them ; and the good Esther 
did really risk her life to save them, by entering the king's 
presence without being sent for. God, however, moved the 
heart of the king to speak kindly to Esther; and she then 
invited the king and Haman to a banquet, and when the 
king bade her ask any I'equest of him, and it should be 
granted, she begged for her own life, and that the lives of 
her people might be spared at her request. The king bade 
her explain her meaning ; and when he found what Haman 
had done, he ordered him to be hanged, with his ten sons, 
upon a gallows that he had prepared for Moixiecai, of whom 
he was envious, and whom he had, the day before, been 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



261 




HAMAN AND ilORDKCAl. 

obliged to lead through the city, seated upon the king^s 
own horse, and dressed in royal robes, and to cry before 
him, *'Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king 
delighteth to honor." Hainan's envy wan the cause of his 
death, and the bravery of Queen Esther saved her uncle's 
life, and all the Jewish captives. 

The wife of Job was not a good woman, although she 
had for a husband the most patient man that ever lived. 
God suffered the devil to tempt him, and try him w;ith 
pains, losses, and bereavements ; but nothing could shake 



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HALF HOURS WITH TEE BIBLE. 




JOB HEARING THK EVIL NEWS. 



his faith in God. God sent the thunderbolts, and slew his 
servants. He caused the housetop to fall in and bury all 
his children, his oxen and servants were carried aw^ay by 
the Sabeans, his sheep were destroyed by fire; but Job 
still worshipped God ; and when a servant came running 
to tell him of all these disasters, he did not repine, or rebel 
against God ; but he bowed his head, and said meekly ; 
" The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : blessed 
be the name of the Lord ! " 

This was the right way to speak, and thus should we 



THE GOOD CHILDREN OF SCRIPTURE. 



263 




JOB IN HIS MISFOKTLNES. 

bear sorrow when it pleases God to afflict us. And you 
may see him in the picture covered with sores, his house 
in flames, deserted by his friends, ridiculed by his unholy 
wife — calmly answering, " What, shall we receive good at 
the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? " What 
a lesson of patience and gratitude to God is taught us by 
Job ! But, in the midst of his troubles, God answered him 
out of the whirlwind. He accepted the submission of Job, 
who once or twice had been tempted to despair, and to 
forget the goodness of God, in the depth of his misery and 



31 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




AND GOD ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND. 



the greatness of his misfortune. God restored him to health 
and to his friends, and gave him more riches and comforts 
than he had before possessed. Truly, God can do all 
things ; he may try us, but he can reward those who bear 
their trials patiently. May we all learn to say, with our 
whole hearts, " Thy will be done." 



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fialf |)0iirs bit| tfjc ^^ihlt. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR 



■*-♦» ♦ '» 



CHAPTER I 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. 

MERRY Christmas and a Happy New 
Year to one and all of my little readers? 
These are pleasant words and good wish- 
p^ as, such as we hope to utter and to listen to 
for many a year, trusting that these good 
wishes may be realised. But why is it, my 
young readers, that Christmas is such a joy- 
ous season? Not because the branch of 
holly trembles in the huge plum pudding, 
and the mince pies make their daily appearance on the 
dinner table, around which are gathered the father, the 
mother, and all the merry group of children, who spend 
the greater part of the year at some distant school ; not 




cfnn HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

because the rooms are decked with holly, and red berries 
mingle with ivy leaves in the old churches ; but because on 
Christmas morning, smiling faces and glad voices sing with 
one accord that Christ was born in Bethlehem. Yes, this 
is indeed a festal day — the anniversary of a birthday that 
all Christians love to celebrate, and rejoice in the fulfilment 
of Isaiah's prophecy, saying, "Unto us a child is born, 
unto us a son is given : and his name shall be called Won- 
derful, Counseller, The mighty God, the Everlasting Father, 
The Prince of Peace." 

I once heard of a dear little girl who was assisting some 
friends to decorate a Christmas-tree; and being told the 
toys and ornaments were intended as presents for the differ- 
ent members of the family, she anxiously inquired, "What 
present they could make to the Lord upon his birthday ? " 
Some of you may think this a vain question, but many of 
you would doubtless be glad to have something worthy to 
offer to the Saviour ; and so you have. There is only one 
thing which you could freely offer to Christ, that would 
satisfy and please him, and that is your hearts. 

If you really love him, and lift up your hearts to him, 
feeble as they are, Jesus will accept and sanctify the gift. 
Perhaps you can repeat the hymn — 

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, 

Once became a child like me ; 
Oh ! that in my whole behaviour, 

He my pattern still might be. 



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267 




THE BIRTH OF JESUS AT BETHLKHEM, 



I do not know any sweeter words than these. What can 
be more wonderful than to know that the holy and al- 
mighty Saviour should come down into the world, in tlie 
form of a helpless child, like us, to suffer pain and weak- 
ness, and to feel hunger and thirst, and sorrow like unto 
ourselves? And what can furnish a more appropriate 
prayer for every reader, than the desire to copy Jesus in 
his whole behaviour and conduct ? and what can aftbrd us 
greater happiness, than to feel that Jesus, our pattern and 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



our Redeemer, is also our friend, ever ready to hear us, 
and to help us, to pity and to intercede for us ? 

The birth of this wonderful child had been foretold 
by the different prophets many years before Christ really 
oame upon the earth. Some foretold where he would be 
born, and others Avhat would be his mission, and his suffer- 
ings; and just before his birth an angel was sent to Mary, 
the mother of Jesus, to tell her by what name the child 
should be called. Jesus, you know, means "a Saviour," 
and Christ siirnifies " the Anointed, the Messiah, or He 
that should come." You may remember that I told you 
how the kings were anointed with oil, and Christ, or " the 
Anointed," signifies that Christ was also " King of Heav- 
en." At the time appointed by God the child Jesus was 
born, as the angel had foretold, and the mother of Jesus 
being away from home on a long journey, she was obliged 
to sleep in a stable Avhere the oxen were kept, because 
there was no other room at liberty ; and there God gave 
Mary the promised infant, who had no other bed for her 
sweet baby than the manger in which she laid him ; but 
even here, while unnoticed and unattended, God sent wise 
men from a distant land to worship him. These wise and 
good men had heard, in their distant country, of the prom- 
ised Saviour, and one evening, when they were gazing up 
into the heavens, they saw a very bright and peculiar star. 
God put it into their minds that this star would lead them 
to Christ ; so they immediately went in the direction in 

4 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. OHQ 

which it appeared. This star went before them until it 
brought them near to Jerusalem, where Plerod the king 
was living, and as they knew by inspiration that Christ was 
a king, they went to the palace to inquire, saying, " Where 
is he that is born King of the Jews ? for we have seen his 
star in the east, and have come to worship him." Herod 
was alai'ined at the idea of having a rival, but he did not 
say so; lie merely inquired of the priests wliere Christ 
should be born, and when they told him "In Bethlehem," 
he advised the wise men to go and seek for the child tliere; 
and desired them to bring liim word when tliey had found 
him. So the wise men again followed the star until it 
brought them to the feet of Jesus, and they rejoiced with 
exceeding great joy, and fell down and worshipped the 
infant Saviour ; and they presented to him gold and frank- 
incense and myrrh. Ah, my children, we need not travel 
a long way to seek the Saviour. lie is always near — he 
can hear our softest prayer. He is our Saviour and our 
friend, and although he now sits at the right hand of God, 
he will be always ready to hear the praises of the youngest 
child. These men I'eturned to their homes happy at having 
found the Christ ; but the Avicked Herod, who did not love 
the Saviour, was frightened lest he should lose his crown, 
and his power, and his riches, so he determined to kill the 
Lord Jesus, if he could. He sent his soldiers to Bethle- 
hem, and desired them to kill e\ ery little baby in the town, 
hoping that one of these would be the promised king. 



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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Many a poor mother's heart was grieved at the death of 
her helpless baby, killed by the soldiers ; yet Herod was 
not able to kill Christ, because God put it into the mind of 
Joseph in a dream to arise by night, and take the young 
child and his mother into another country, called Egypt ; 
so when the other poor babes were put to death Christ was 
in safety, and all his cruelty was vain. A successor of this 
wicked man, also named Herod, afterwards put to death a 
good prophet, called John the Baptist. This young man, 
who had been born to his parents in their old age, a few 
months before the birth of Christ, had been sent by God 
to be a forerunner or preacher about Christ, 



CHAPTER II. 



Christ's baptism and first ]\iiracles. 




HEN Jesus wns eight days old, he was 
carried to Jerusalem, and circumcised ac- 
cording to the law of the Jews, who did 
not baptize their children as the Christians 
do ; and while he was in the Temple a very 
old man, named Simeon, was led by the 
Spirit to behold the Lord's Christ; and he 
rejoiced, and took the dear baby into his 
arms, and said, '' Lord, now lettest thou 
thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes 



THE LIFE OK JESUS CHRIST. OUK SAVIOUR. 



271 




JOHN THE BAITIST IN THE WILDERNESS- 

have seen thy salvation." He meant that he was ready to 
die in peace, having seen the Saviour. A good old pro- 
phetess, named Anna, came into the Temple to worship 
God, and she also knew by inspiration, that it was her 
Saviour, and she blessed and praised God. 



272 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JESUS WITH THE DOCTORS IN THE TEMPLE. 

Twelve years after this, Jesus came up with his parents 
again to Jerusalem to keep the feast of the passover ; but 
when Joseph and Mary set off to return home, Jesus stayed 
behind. As there was a large company of their friends 
and neighbors, Mary supposed that Jesus was with some 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 273 

other children ; but when they stopped to rest at night, he 
was nowhere to be found. Joseph and Mary immediately 
turned back to Jerusalem, and after three days, they found 
Jesus sitting in the Temple with the most learned men, 
hearing tliem and asking them questions ; and when Mary 
told him what sorrow his absence had occasioned them, he 
said, " Why did you seek me, wist ye not that I must be 
about my Father's business ? " But although they under- 
stood not his meaning, Jesus obeyed the voice of his moth- 
er, and returned with her at once. In all tilings Jesus 
obeyed his motlier's voice, and therefore he cannot love " a 
disobedient child." 

I must now tell you a little more about John, who lived 
in the wilderness, and wore clothing made of camel's hair, 
flistened round his loins Avith a leathern girdle, living upon 
locusts, a kind of bean, and wild honey, he went about 
preaching, and saying, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
and make his paths straight ; " and he baptized all those 
who would listen to him, and believe in the cominc: of 
Christ. Even Jesus himself, because he wished to teach 
people to fulfil all the rites and mysteries of religion, went 
down to John to be baptized of him. John, knowing that 
Christ was without sin, answered that he had need to be 
baptized of Jesus, but when he found that Christ desired 
it he baptized him; and just as Jesus went up out of the 
water, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God de- 
scended like a dove upon him, and a voice was heard from 



274 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



heaven, saying, " This is my beloved Son, in whom 1 am 
well pleased." 

Jesus soon after this went into one of the Jewish syna- 
gogues (or churches), and there he opened the book of the 
prophet Isaiah, and read where it was written, " The Spirit 
of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to 
preach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to lieal the 
broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and 
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that 
are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.'' 
So we must pra}^ to Jesus to keep sin out of our hearts, 
and to pour his love into them instead. If we be holy, we 
shall be happy ; and we can never pray too often, " Lead 
us not into temptation." 

Jesus sat down upon the side of a high mountain, and 
began to preach to the people, saying : — 

" Blessed are tlie poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall 
be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit 
the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst 
after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are 
the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the 
pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessad are the 
peace-makers : for they shall be called the children of God." 
And Jesus taught the people the little prayer which we 
say every day to " Our Father in heaven," and which is, 
on that account, called " The Lord's Prayer." About this 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



275 



time Jesus was invited to be present at a wedding feast, 
and there he is supposed to have wrought his first miracle. 
The bridegroom was probably a poor man, and unable to 




CHRIST CHANGING WATER INTO WINE. 



buy wine to set before his guests, and Mary, the mother of 
Jesus, said unto her son, " They have no wine." Jesus then 
privately desired the servants to fill the six stone waterpots 
with water, and when they had filled them, he desired them 
to draw out wine. The governor of the feast, having tasted 
the wine, was astonished, and he said unto the bridegroom, 



^^jn HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

" Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine ; 
and when men have well drunk, then that which is w^orse ' 
but thou hast kept the good wine until now." One day, a 
leper came and worshipped before him, saying, " Lord, if 
thou wilt, thou canst make me clean ? " Jesus put forth his 
hand and touched him, and said, "I will; be thou clean," 
and the man was healed immediately ; but Jesus sent him 
to show himself to the priests, and to offer the offering ac- 
cording to the law of Moses. 

When Jesus was entering into Capernaum, a centurion 
(that is, a captain over one hundred soldiers) met him, and 
begged Jesus would heal his servant, who was sick of a 
disease called the palsy. Jesus said, " I will come and heal 
him." But the centurion answered, '' Lord, I am not worthy 
that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the 
word only, and my servant shall be healed." Jesus himself 
was astonished at the faith of this good man, and he said 
to his followers, " I have not found so great faith, no, not 
in Israel." And he told the centurion to go his way, and 
as he had believed, so should his pi-ayer be granted. The 
centurion went home quite happy, for he knew that Jesus 
could cure the sickness and sorrow of all who cry to him, 
and he found his servant quite restored to health. 



12 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



277 



CHAPTER III. 




CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN SAMARIA. 

T the time of the Jews' Passover, Jesus went 
up to Jerusalem, and he entered into the 
temple, not the temple which Solomon had 
built, for that was destroyed by the army 
of Nebuchadnezzar, but another temple 
which Ezra and Nehemiali had helped the 
Jews to build after they came out of capti- 
vity ; and it was very beautiful ; but Jesus 
found a great many doves and animals 
brought there and exposed for sale, so tliat people Avho 
wished to offer theii' sacrifices need have no trouble in pro- 
curing them, because they could buy them within the gates 
of the temple ; and when Jesus saw this, he was displeased, 
and he cast out the buyers and sellers, and overthrew the 
tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who 
sold doves; and he said unto them, "Take these things 
hence ; make not my father's house an house of merchan- 
dise." He would not suffer the temple of his Father to be 
dishonoured, and he is displeased with all those who go to 
the house of prayer with worldly thoughts and feelings. 
And these sayings and doings of Jesus were much talked 
of by those who had seen him and his miracles ; and one 
of the rulers of the Jews, a Pharisee, named Nicodemus, 

13 



278 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHRIST DRIVING THE MONEY-CHANGERS FROM THE TEMPLE. 

thought a great deal about these things ; he was a good 
man, and he wished to know what was good, and to see 
Jesus, but he was afraid to go to him openly, for fear of 
his proud and conceited brethren ; so he came privately to 
Jesus by night, and said unto him, "Rabbi, we know that 



THE LIFE OF JESFS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



279 



thou art a teacher come from God ; for no man can do 
these miracles which thou doest, except God be with him." 
Jesus then explained to him that he must have a changed 
heart, and become a good and holy man, before he could 
hope to be a child of God. And Nicodemus went away 
with s,tronger faith, and more love to Jesus ; and he after- 
wards became a disciple. 

I must now tell you of some other miracles performed 
by Christ, as he went about from place to place doing good. 
One day he went into the house of Peter, and found the 
mother of Peter's wife very ill with a fever. Jesus went 
and touched her hand, and immediately the fever left her, 
and she got up and waited upon them : and he also cured 
a great many other sick persons before he entered into a 
ship with his disciples, with the intention of crossing the 
sea. Jesus was tired with preaching and walking so far> 
and he lay down on a pillow to sleep ; but soon there arose 
a violent storm, and the ship was tossed up and down upon 
the waves, until the disciples, forgetting that Jesus was 
with them, and that they must be safe in his keeping, be- 
came so terj'ified that they awoke Jesus, saying, " Lord, save 
us: we pei'ish." And he saith unto them, *' Why are fear- 
ful, O ye of little faith V Then he arose and rebuked the 
winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. You see 
one word from Jesus could bring peace and comfort: he 
said, "Peace" and all was still. This marvellous change 
astonished even those who had seen his miracles, and they 



280 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 



could not forbear saying, ^' What manner of man is this 
that even the winds and the sea obey him ? " 

On liis way to Nazareth, Jesus had passed through Sa- 
maria; the weather was very warm, and Jesus sat down 
beside the well of Sychar, while his disciples were gone 
into the city to buy food. Jesus was hungry, weary, and 
thirsty, and as he sat there a woman came out of the city to 
draw water at the well. And Jesus said unto her, " Give 
me to drink."" The woman was surprised that a Jew should 
ask water of a Samaritan woman, because the Jews despised 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



281 



the people of Samaria, on account of their having built a 
temple for themselves, after the Jewish captivity, when 
they had endeavoured to prevent the Jews from re-building 
one at Jerusalem. Jesus, hovvevei*, was kind and good to 
the m-eatest sinners, and he said to the woman, *' If thou 
knewest who it is that saith, Give me to drink, thou would- 
est have asked of him, and he would have given thee living 
water, of which whosoever drinketh thirsteth no more." 
The woman said, " Sir, give me this water, that I thirst 
not, neither come hither to draw." The good Jesus then 
told her that he was the Messias, and that she must worship 
God in spirit and in truth. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Q 



oil R 1 S T S WONDERFUL DEEDS AND JII li A C L E S . 



Jj^^^vpHEN Jesus came again to Cana, a rich 



nobleman came to him from Capernaum 
in great sorrow, because his dear son was 
so ill that the physicians said he must soon 
die, for they had tried in vain to make him 
better ; and the weeping father, having 
heard of Jesus, came and begged the Sa- 
viour most earnestly that he would go to 
Capernaum and heal his son. Jesus did 




282 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE NOBI-EMAN AT CAPERNAUM. 



not go : he wished to try the faith of the nobleman, say- 
ing, " Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." 
The father was anxious that no time should be lost, so he 
again besought Jesus, saying, " Sir, come down, ere my 
child die." Jesus said, " Go thy way ; thy son liveth." 



/HE LIFE OP JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



283 




THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. 



The nobleman believed the word that Jesus had spoken, 
and before he reached home he met his servant, who was 
coining to tell him the good news ; and he inquired of his 
servant at what hour the child began to amend, and the 
servant told him that the fever had left the child at the 
seventh hour, which was the precise time at which Jesus 
had told the father that his son lived. 

One day Jesus sat in a little ship belonging to one of 



19 



cfHA HALF HOURS WIITH THE BIBLE. 

the disciples, and taught a large crowd of people who had 
followed him. Afterwards he told Simon to let down his 
nets into the sea for a draught; but Simon answered, 
" Master, we have toiled all night and taken nothing ; nev- 
ertheless, at thy word I will let down the net;" and on 
doing so they caught such a multitude of fishes that their 
net brake ; and Simon Peter was so much astonished that 
he threw himself at the feet of the Saviour, saying, "De- 
part fi'om me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." After this 
Jesus healed other sick, and some afflicted with evil spirits, 
and at Jerusalem he saw a sick man lying beside the pool 
of Bethesda. God used to send an ans^el to disturb the 
waters at certain times, and the first person who afterwards 
got into the pool was healed of his disease. This poor man 
had laid there thirty-eight years in pain and suffering, close 
to the pool, but, being too ill and weak to get into the 
water, some other sufferer, who had friends to assist him, 
would get in first, and the virtue of the water was gone. 
Jesus knew all this ; he therefore came and asked the man, 
saying, "Wilt thou be made whole?" and the poor man 
no sooner expressed his wish to be cured than Jesus, who 
knew his heart, said, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk;" 
and, as the man went off with his bed, the loving Saviour 
warned him to leave off sinning, lest God should inflict a 
worse punishment upon him. Jesus had called together 
twelve men, who were called his apostles, and he used to 
teach these disciples many things in parables. A parable 



20 



.1 I 
. I 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



9«^^ 



85 




CHRIST HKALING A SICK MAN. 

is a kind of easy story which has two meanings ; and the 
parables which were spoken by Christ, could only be under- 
stood by those to whom God gave the spirit of understand- 
ing. I will tell you some of these parables : — One was of 
the sower, who went out to sow his seed. Some fell by 
the wayside ; some upon a rock, and was dried up ; some 
among the thorns, that choked it ; and some fell upon good 
ground, and flourished ; and to his disciples he explained 
that the seed on the wayside were those who listened to 



21 



286 



HALF HOURS ^YTTH THE BTBLE. 




THE SOWER SOWING THE SEED. 



the Gospel, and then went away and forgot what they had 
6een taught ; the seed on the rock are those who are peni- 
tent for a little while, but fall away at tlie first temptation 
to evil ; the seed among thorns represented those who wei'e 
too busy with their gains or their pleasures to attend; 
while the good seed where those who heard the word and 
kept it. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR, 



287 



CHAPTER V. 



CHRIST IS TRANSFIGURED, AND WALKETH ON THE SEA. 

€^f^ NOTHER parable he told them, to warn 
•tif^vl them against covetousness, and to show them 

^'^/'^Mt^xL ^^^^ t^^y could not cany their possessions 
with them when they died. A certain man 
said he had great possessions : his crops were 
so abundant that he knew not where to 
store them ; so he determined to pull down 
his barns and build greatei'; and then he 
thought he might say to his soul, " Soul, thou hast much 
goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, 
and be merry." But God said, " Thou fool, this night thy 
soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall those 
things be which thou hast provided ? " So is he that pro- 
videth and careth for this world only. Another parable 
he told them of the man whose enemy sowed tares in the 
field with his wheat, and that at the harvest, or end of the 
world, the good people should be gathered like the wheat 
into the barn, or heaven, and the wicked, like the tares, 
should be burned in the fire. Jesus, having heard that John 
the Baptist had been put to death by Herod, went away 
in a ship to a desert place, followed by the poor whom he 
taught and comforted. When night came on, the disci- 
ples begged their Master to send the tired, hungry people 
back to their dwellings ; but Jesus, knowing their wants, 

23 



288 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE ENEMY SOWING TARES. 

said, " Give ye them to eat." The disciples had only five 
loaves for themselves, and two small fishes. Yet Jesus 
commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and he 
blessed the food, and brake, and gave to the disciples, who 
gave to the multitude ; and they all did eat, and were 
filled. And when all had eaten — about five thousand men, 
besides women and children — they gathered up twelve 
baskets full of pieces. 

Jesus one day took three of his disciples with him on 



I 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



289 




THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES. 

to a liigli mountain, and while there he became transfigured, 
or changed like a God, and his clothes looked white as 
snow, and his face was dazzling as the sun ; and there ap- 
peared Moses and Elias, who talked with Jesus. Peter 
said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here;" and while he 
was speaking, a bi'iglit cloud covered them, and they heard 
a voice, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
well pleased ; hear ye him." The disciples fell upon their 
faces with fear; but Jesus said, "Arise, and be not afaid;" 
and they lifted up their eyes, and found Jesus alone. 



290 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHRIST IS TRANSFIGURED. 



He soon after this performed a cure on the lunatic son 
of an unhappy father who had brought his child to Jesas for 
help and mercy. And when they came to Jesus to demand 
his share of the taxes paid to the Roman emperor, he was 
without money; but he sent his disciple Peter, and desired 



THE LIFE OP JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



291 




CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA. 

liim to cast a hook into the sea, and in the mouth of the 
first fish which came up he should find a piece of money 
sufficient to pay the demand made upon hotli. And 
scarcely was tliis done before they were followed by two 
bHnd men, who followed Jesus, crying, " Have mercy on 
us, O Lord, thou son of David." Nor were their cries in 
vain, for Christ restored to both tlieir eye-sight. 

It was on a dark and stormy night the disciples were 
trying to cross the sea in their little ship, but the wind and 



292 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

waves were both contrary. They were tossed about, and 
unable to get forward, when all at once they saw Jesus 
walking on the sea; but they knew him not, and were 
frightened, saying, " It is a spirit." But Jesus spake, say- 
ing, " It is I, be not afraid." Then Peter cried, " Lord, if 
it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus 
said, " Come." But as soon as Peter began to w^alk upon 
the water his faith failed him, and he began to sink, and 
he could only cry out, '^Lord save me." And Jesus caught 
him by the hand, and said, " O thou of little faith, where- 
fore didst thou doubt ? " And as soon as Jesus had come 
into the ship the storm jceased,-and they were close to the 
land. He also spake the parable of the lost sheep and the 
prodigal son, the householder and his vineyard, and assured 
them that it was difficult for a rich man to enter into the 
kingdom of heaven. On one occasion he took a little child 
(for Jesus loved children, and was kind to them, and bless- 
ed them), and told his disciples that unless they became 
humble and guileless as a little child, they could not enter 
into the kingdom of heaven. 



I 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, OUIl SAVIOUR. 



293 



CHAPTER VI 




JESUS RAISETII THE DEAD. 

HERE were two other miracles which 
Jesus performed that you will be surpris- 
ed to hear of. He raised to life those 
who were dead, and one of these was a 
young girl ; but the first was the son of a 
poor widow, who was following her only 
child to the grave, and weeping bitterly 
as she went. But Jesus mt!t her at the 
gate of the city, and when he beheld her 
bitter grief, he said to her kindly, " Weep not." Then he 
touched the bier upon which the body was carried, and the 
bearers stood still, and Jesus said, "Young man, I say unto 
thee, Arise ! " and he that was dead sat up, and began to 
speak, to the great joy of his broken-hearted mother. How 
happy was she to take him home again, and how much 
they ought to have loved the gentle and compassionate 
Saviour, who, not long after, restored to a sorrowing father 
his only child. Jairus was a ruler among the Jews, and a 
rich man, but his riches and power could not save his only 
child from death. When she was so ill that the doctors 
could do no more for her, her father ran to seek Jesus, but 
before he could bring him to his house a messenger was 
sent after him, saying, "Trouble not the master, for thy 



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HALF HOURS WIITH THE BIBLE. 




THE RAISING OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER 



child is dead." But Jesus bade him not to be afraid, only 
to believe. When they were come to the house, and heard 
the mourning and weeping, Jesus said, " Why make ye 
this ado and weep ? the maiden is not dead, but sleepeth." 
And he went in, and took her by the hand, and said, 
"Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise!" And she arose, and 
walked, and did eat and drink, and was cured. 



THE LIFK OF JESUS OHUIST, OUR SAVIOUR. 



295 




LAZARUS I-YING SICK. 



There was a family at Bethany whom Jesus loved — 
two sisters and a brother. One sister loved to hear of the 
things of God, when Jesus visited them ; but Martha was 
always more anxious to wait upon Jesus. Lazarus their 
brother died, and although the sisters sent to Jesus, he did 
not go to them until Lazarus had been laid in the tomb 
four days. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, 
she ran out to meet him, and said, "Lord, if thou hadst 
been here, my brother had not died." But Jesus wept with 



296 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

them, and went with them to the grave ; and the people 
were astonished to see Jesus weeping for Lazarus at the 
mouth of the cave; and he ordered them to remove the 
stone from the mouth of the tomb, and, after praying to 
his heavenly Father, he cried with a loud voice, " Lazarus, 
come forth ! " And he that was dead came forth, tied u]) 
in his grave-clothes, and Jesus said, " Loose him, and let 
him go." How happy were the sisters to see their dear 
brother again, and how they must have loved and 23raised 
the gracious Saviour, who was soon going to lay down his 
life for them, and all other poor sinners, even little child- 
ren ! I have told you Jesus loved children, and when their 
mothers brought their little ones to him, Christ took them 
in his arms and said, " Suffer the little children to come 
unto me.'" And the kindest wishes that we can frame for 
the welfare of our young readers are, that they may learn 
to know and fear him, go to him with joy and gladness, 
and seek his blessing; for though he is now in heaven, 
he can bless them and keep them ; and whoever inherits 
Christ's blessing here on earth, will be blessed for ever 
with the Saviour in heaven. 



OUR SAVIOUR'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS 



CHAPTER I. 

HOW JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE. 

^ T is, and must be, a great comfort to every 
one who can read the Bible, or who can hear 
it read, to know that the Bible is all true, 
and that it was given to us by a holy and 
^^ just God, who cannot lie; and the faithful 
^ saying that God has given to us in it con- 
cerning his Son Jesus Christ is the most pre- 
cious word that can be spoken. 
"^X^ We have heard many wondrous things the 

Lord has done for his people, since the creation of the 
world, and we have heard how many years the prophets 
and holy men of old prophesied, or foretold, the coming 
of Christ, and that he was to be the ransom for lost sin- 
ners : and we know that through the disobedience of our 
first parents all are born in sin, " the children of wrath ;" 
and that only by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, 




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HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




JESUS IN THE TEMPLE. 



by faitli in his death, we are made the children of grace ; 
and that to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and in 
his gospel, will God grant forgiveness, mercy, and life ever- 
lasting. You must have heard how Jesus was born into 
the world a helpless baby, feeling all the pains and tempt- 
ations that other children feel ; and that he grew up auiong 
the children of this world, setting them an example of du- 
tiful obedience to their parents, of love to our heavenly 
Father, of love to others, of gentleness, patience, meekness, 



OUR SAVIOURS TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 9^^ 

and industry. All the time of his stay upon earth Jesus 
was never idle ; he was always going about doing good, 
feeding the hungry, curing the sick, teaching the ignorant, 
reproving the wicked, comforting the sad and sorrowful, 
and sometimes raising the dead to life. 

It would be almost impossible to hear of these wonder- 
ful works that Jesus did, to read of the parables and gra- 
cious words that fell from his lips, without feeling that he 
was indeed the Christy the Saviour that should come into 
the world ; and we ought to thank him eveiy day of our 
lives that we are living in times when all these truths are 
being taught and acknowledged. 

There w^ere many things which Jesus taught his disci- 
ples which the proud Scribes and Pharisees would not un- 
derstand ; and he used to tell them little instructive stories 
called Parables. One of these was about an unkind servant. 
Peter had asked him how often he must forgive a person 
who had offended him, and Jesus told him seventy times 
seven. He meant very, very often ; and if Peter did not 
forgive those who offended him, he could not hope God 
would forgive his many sins. So Jesus told his disciples of 
a certain king, whose servant owed him a very large sum of 
money, which he would never be able to pay ; — even if he 
had been sold as a slave, with his wife and children, still 
the money w^ould not pay the debt ; so he fell down before 
the king, cind pi-ayed him to have patience with him, and 
he would pay him all. But the king forgave him the whole 

■6 



300 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




PARABLE OE THE UiNKIND SERVANT. 

debt. Not long after one of his fellow-servants got into 
his debt, when the unkind servant refused to listen to the 
excuses and prayers of his fellow-servant, but seized him 
rudely by the throat, and said, " Pay me that thou owest." 
The poor man was unable to do this, and the unkind servant 
cast him into prison. When his lord heard this he was 
angry, saying, " Oh, thou wicked servant, I forgave thee 
all that debt, because thou desiredst me : shouldst not thou 
also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I 



OUP. SAVIOURS TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 



301 




THK LORD OF THE VINEYARD HIRING LABORERS. 

had pity on thee ?" Then the king delivered him to tlie 
tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. By 
this lesson Jesus teaches all to be kind and forgiving. One 
of his parables was of a house-holder who went out early 
in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard : and he 
agreed to give them a penny a day. After this he hired 
other laborers, and some hours after he hired others, and 
quite late in the day he found others standing idle, and said 
unto them, " Why stand ye here all the day idle ? Go ye 
also into the vineyard ; and whatsoever is right that ye shall 



302 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



receive." So when the even was come, and the laborers 
came to be paid for their work, they received every man a 
penny. Then those laborers who had been hired early in 
the day were dissatisfied, because they had no more pay than 
the others, and they murmured against the goodman of the 
house, saying, " These last have wrought but one hour, and 
thou hast made them equal to us, which have borne the 
burden and heat of the day." But he answered them thus : 
" Friend, didst not thou agree with me for a penny ? Take 
that thine is, and go thy way. Is it not lawful for me to 
do what I will with mine own?" And thus he taught 
them that to whom God will he is able to give the gift or 
wages of life eternal. 



v<^- 




CHAPTER II. 

PARABLES OF THE RICH MAN AND OF THE 
GOOD SAMARITAN. 



v) HE parable of the rich man and Lazarus 
was told to the disciples to prevent them 
from seeking to be rich and prosperous 
in this world, and, above all, to be kind 
and charitable to the poor and afflicted. 
There was a rich man, who lived in a fine 
house, and had rich clothing, and the daintiest fare ; but 
he took little heed of a poor beggar, named Lazarus, who, 



OUR SAVIOURS TEACHTNOS AND SUFFERINGS. 



303 




mmiiummi'mim^fr^t^mm^'*'^ 



LAZARUS AT THE RICH MAN S GATE. 



having no home, used to lie at the gate of the rich man's 
house, hoping to be fed with the broken pieces wliich the 
servants did not care to eat, for he was too sick to work or 
help himself The very dogs took pity upon this poor man : 
they came and licked his sores, and tried to comfort him ; 
but in all his pain he was happier than the rich man, for 
he loved God, and he looked forward to a better home in 
heaven, and when the angels came to carry him there, he 
would be happy for ever. And soon after the rich man 



3Q4 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

died ; lie could only enjoy liis riches and his good things as 
long as God gave him breath ; and he had a grand funeral, 
and his body was laid in a fine tomb, and his soul was sent 
into a place of torment, where he could only look up to 
heaven, and see Lazarus resting on Abraham's bosom. In 
vain the rich man cried to Abraham for a drop of water to 
cool his burning tongue : he had carried no water to Laza- 
rus in his suffering ; he had only cared for himself; and now 
Abraham tells him that Lazarus, having suffered evils in 
his life with patience and submission, is rewarded ; but that 
he, who had only cared for the riches, pleasures, and hon- 
ors of the world, must now suffer for the bad use he had 
made of them. Then Jesus told them of the good Samari- 
tan. You must remember that the Jews did not like the 
Samaritans: they considered themselves much better and 
holier ; but Jesus wished to show them that their doings 
did not always agree with their professions; so one day, 
when the Jews were troubling Jesus with questions, hoping 
to make him say something contrary to their law, a lawyer 
asked him, saying, " Master, what shall I do to inherit eter- 
nal life?" Jesus, having asked him what was written in 
the law, told him that according to that law he must serve 
God, and love his neighbor. "Who is my neighbor?" 
questioned the wily lawyer; and Jesus answered in a para- 
ble, of a certain Jew, who, traveling from Jerusalem to 
Jericho, fell among thieves, and was stripped, robbed, 
wounded, and left half dead. The first who came by was 



OUR saviour's teachings and SUrrERINGS. 



305 




THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 



a priest. He and a Levite also, seeing liim, passed by on 
the other side. But a Samaritan bound up his wounds, 
poured wine into his parched lips, and, when sufficiently 
recovered, placed him on his own beast, accompanied him 
to the inn, and gave him in charge of the host, giving mo- 
ney, and promising more on his return. Then Jesus askeii 
the lawyer, " Which of the three was neighbor to the 
man who fell among thieves ?" The lawyer answered, " He 
who showed mercy." Then said Jesus, " Go and do thon 
likewise." 



306 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER III. 

PROPHECIES OF JESUS, AND MORE PARABLES. 

LL these things had been foretold by a pro- 
phet before the birth of Jesus, who now went 
into the Temple, and drove out those who 
were buying and selling in his Father's house. 
Jesus did not remain long at Jerusalem, but 
returned to Bethany. On the way thither 
he cursed a fig-tree that bore no fruit ; and 
wlien they passed by again they found the fig-tree quite 
withered away already. I hope you are not like trees tliat 
produce no good fruit. He knows whether you love him. 
He knew that when the poor widow threw her two mites 
into God's treasury, that that one farthing was all the 
money she had in the world, and he praised her faith and 
love to his disciples. Surely the blessing of Jesus was 
worth more than all the gold and silver in the world. And 
soon after this Jesus saw his disciples admire the beautiful 
stones of the temple, and he told them that there soon 
should not be one stone left upon another. Then he took 
some of his disciples into a quiet place on the Mount of 
Olives, and explained to them some of the dreadful things 
that would happen to the beautiful city, and what should 
come to pass when he would come again in his glory at 
the end of the world. You will feel very shocked and 
sorry when you are old enough to read of the distresses 



OUR SAVIOUR'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 



307 



that befell the Jews at the destruction of their fine city. 
And then he taught them again by parables. First he 
likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins, who took 
lamps in their hands, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 
Five of them were wise, and five of them wei-e foolish 
virgins, who forgot to provide any oil in their lamps. At 
midnight — for in Jewish lands it is usual for marriages to 
be made in the evening — a cry was made, " Behold the 
bridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him." The virgins 
arose, and began to trim their lamps ; but the foolish virgins, 
having no oil of their own, begged of the wise virgins, 
saying, " Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out." 
The wise virgins, however, having none to spare, told them 
to purchase oil for themselves. But while the foolish 
virgins were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom passed, and 
those who were ready went in with him to the marriage- 
feast, and the door was closed. In vain they cried at the 
door, " Lord, lord, open to us." The answer was, " I know 
you not." It was too late. Jesus, you know, is the bride- 
groom, the hour of whose coming is not known to us ; the 
oil is the grace and love of God, and if our hearts are not 
filled with these when the Lord comes to call us to judg- 
ment, it will be too late to pray and repent afterwards. 
Only those who are prepared to meet him can go with 
Jesus to heaven. Another parable he told them of the 
good master, who gave talents (the money then in use in 
that country) to his servants — to one ten, to another two 



308 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE PARABLE OF THE FEAST. 



talents, and to another one — and the master went away; 
but, upon his return, he called the servants to give an 
account. The servants who had received five talents and 
two talei^ts had made good use of their lord's money, 
and doubled it ; while the other had hid his money in the 
ground, and the king punished him accordingly. Jesus also 
likened the kingdom of heaven to a certain king, who 
made a marriage for his son, and invited many guests to 
the marriage feast ; but the invited guests paid no heed to 



12 



OUR SAVIOUR'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 



309 




THE WEDDING GARMENT. 



his kind invitation. So he sent his servants out into the 
highways and lanes, to bring in as many as they found, to 
partake of the feast. These poor people were all provided 
at the entrance with garments fit for a marriage /east ; but 
when the king came in to see the guests, he found there a 
man who had not chosen to array himself in the beautiful 
dress. Then the king desired his servants to bind him hand 
and foot, and to cast him into outer darkness. 



13 




o-j A HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE, 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 

ND now tlie time drew near when Jesus 
was to die, to be oifered np as a sinless 
sacrifice for the sins of mankind, so he be- 
gan his journey towards Jerusalem ; and 
at Bethany, where Lazarus and his sistei-s 
dwelt, there was a feast made for Jesus by 
a rich man named Simon, and Mary sat 
down at the feet of Jesus. She had with her a box of very 
expensive ointment, with which she anointed his feet, and 
she wiped them with her long, soft hair. Judas, who was to 
betray the Saviour, grumbled at her, and thought it great 
waste to spend this valuable ointment in this way. He 
would have liked to sell it, and get the money, as he pre- 
tended, out of love to the poor. But Jesus, who could read 
all the thoughts of his heart, said, '' Why trouble ye the 
woman ? she hath wrought a good work upon me." And 
he went on to tell them that they could always find oppor- 
tunities of doing good to the poor, for there were always 
poor people to be found who needed help and comfort ; 
but that he was going to die, and Mary was anointing his 
body for burial, according to the custom of the country. 
And Jesus said, also, " Wheresoever this gospel shall be 
preached throughout the whole world, this also that she 
hath done shall be spoken for a memorial of her." But a 



OUR saviour's teachings and sufferings. o-i-i 

great many of the people who were present were even then 
wishing for the death of Jesus; and some of them took 
counsel together to put Lazarus to death, because Jesus had 
raised him to life, and many people believed on the kind 
Saviour on that account. Jesus knew all their bad thoughts 
and desires, but he went on his way doing his Father's work. 
So the next day he sent his disci])les forward from the 
Mount of Olives, and told them to go into the village, and 
they would find an ass tied and a colt by her, and that 
they should loose them and bring them to him ; and as the 
disciples were untying the ass their owner inquired of them 
why they did so, and they said, " The Lord hath need of 
them;" and the man let them go. So they brought the 
ass to Jesus, and they spread their garments over it, and 
Jesus mounted thereon, to ride into Jerusalem. And when 
the people saw him coming they spread branches of trees, 
and possibly flowers, before him, and those who had fine 
garments spread them in the way, for the ass to walk over 
them, and they all cried and shouted for joy, saying, " Ho- 
sanna in the highest: Blessed is He that cometli in the 
name of the Lord ! " There were many little children who 
joined in the cry, " Hosanna in the highest;" and Jesus 
was pleased to hear the little ones sing his praises. And 
when he came into the temple he found the people buying 
and selling doves, and a second time he drove them away 
from his Father's house, and desired them to keep it holy. 
A good prophet, named Zechariah, had foretold that Jesus 

15 



312 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




Christ's entry into Jerusalem. 
would come riding upon an ass lowly and humbly, although 
the king of heaven and earth. Jesus did not stay long in 
Jerusalem. He went to Bethany, and on the way he saw 
a fig-tree, which bore no fruit, and Jesus cursed the barren 
fig-tree, and immediately it withered away ; and this will 



16 



OUR saviour's teachings and sufferings. 3-1^0 

be the sad end of all who are not really good, but only 
pretend to do well that men may praise them. Jesus told 
his disciples some other parables. One was about a man 
who had a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, who 
refused to give their lord the fruit thereof, and they beat 
and ill-used his servants and his messengers. The OAvner 
then sent his own son, hoping that the husbandmen would 
honor and reverence him, but they did not, for they said, 
" Come, let us kill him." And they cast him out of the 
vineyard, and put him to death. When the lord of the 
vineyard heard this, he came and destroyed those wicked 
men, and let out their vineyard to others. In this parable 
Jesus reproved the wickedness of the Jews, who had killed 
the prophets, and foretold the salvation of the Gentiles, 
who should become Christians. We must try to obey God 
and love Jesus, if we would escape the punishment due to 
unbelievers. Another parable was of the prodigal son, 
who begged of his father to give him his portion, and he 
went away and spent it in rioting and extravagance. At 
last the money was all gone, his gay companions forsook 
him, and he was nearly starving with hunger. He was fain 
to eat the shells and husks that were given to the pigs, and 
he was very miserable when he thought of the happy home 
he had left. At length he determined to go back to his 
kind father, and tell him how sorry he was for his folly and 
wickedness. He said, " I will arise and go to my fjxther, 
and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven 

17 



314 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE prodigal's RETURN. 

and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy 
son : make me as one of thy hired servants." Then Jesus 
points out the mercy of our Heavenly Father. He tells us 
that when the penitent sinner was yet a great way off the 
father saw him, and had pity on him, and went out to meet 
him, and kissed him, and even, while the sorrowing son 
confesses his guilt, the tender parent calls for a fine robe, 
and provides all his necessities, and makes a feast for very 
joy that his lost son is restored to him ; and, when the elder 



.i I 
. I 



OUR SAVIOUR S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 



315 



brother murmured at the joyous welcome that was given to 
the wanderer, and turned away because he was too jealous 
to join in the merriment, his kind father came and begged 
liim to go in, saying, "Thou art always with me, and all 
that I have is thine ; but we must now make merry and 
rejoice over this thy brother, who was lost, and is found." 
How glad should we be when any poor sinner is brought 
back to the fold of God, for we know that the angels 
rejoice in heaven over penitent sinners ! 



CHAPTER V. 

THE L R D 'S SUPPER. 

ESUS, with some of his disciples, went up in* 
to the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem, and 
looked over the beautiful city ; and there he 
foretold the sorrows that would come upon 
the Jews, and of wars, and famines, and trou- 
bles that would precede the destruction of 
the Jews ; and thei-e he promised his disci- 
ples to be with them in all their trials and sufferings for 
their Master's sake, and the destruction of Jerusalem would 
be a type of the coming of our Lord in power and glory. 
And not long after our Saviour's death the Romans came 
and besieged the city, inflicted unheard of cruelties upon 
the Jews, burned the holy temple, and totally destroyed 




o-i n HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

the city, carrying away many captives. And Jesus told 
them of the day when he should come with his holy angels, 
and divide the sheep from the goats, putting the righteous 
on his right hand, and sinners on the left, and warned them 
to be ready at that day, the coming of which would be as a 
thief in the night. And all this time that Jesus was teach- 
ing his disciples, the wicked Judas was covenanting with 
the high priests to betray his master into their hands for 
thirty pieces of silver. It was just at the season when the 
Jews from all parts came up to Jerusalem to keep the feast 
of the passover, and to partake of the paschal lamb ; and 
Jesus also came with his disciples, and he called two of 
them, and desired them to go into the city, where they 
would find a man bearing a pitcher of water, whom they 
should follow, and, entering into the same house, inquire of 
the good-man of the house, saying, " The master saith, where 
is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with 
my disciples ? " and he would show them a room in which 
to prepare the feast. And the disciples went and found 
everything as Jesus had said, and when the passover was 
ready, Jesus came in the evening with his disciples to eat 
it. And while they were eating- their supper Jesus was 
very sorrowful, for he knew all that was going to happen 
to him; and he said unto the twelve, "Verih^, I say unto 
you, that one of you shall betray me." Most of the dis- 
ciples wondered what their master meant, and questioned, 
saying, ' Lord, is it I ? " The Saviour answered that one 

20 



OUR saviour's teachings and SUFFERINGb. 3^7 




THE LAST SUPPER. 



who dipped his hand in the same dish with him should be- 
tray him. Judas alone understood the Saviour's meaning, 
but he also pretended to wonder, saying, " Master, is it I ? " 
Jesus answered, " Thou hast said." Then Jesus brake the 
bread, and blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 
"Take, eat, this is my body;" and he took the cup, and 
gave thanks, saying, "Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood, 
which is shed for the remission of sins." And since Jesus 
gave these his last commands to his disciples, all good 
Christians are happy to be allowed to partake of the Lord's 



318 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



Supper. Then Jesus rose from the table, and took a basin 
of water, and washed the feet of his disciples, as an ex- 
ample to be lowly and humble. So they passed over the 
brook Cedron, and came into the garden of Gethsemane, 
and there Jesus left some of his disciples to pray, while he 
went on farther with three of his disciples, whom he de- 
sired to watch while he went on to pray by himself. 
While Jesus was praying, the tired disciples fell asleep; 
they could not see the large drops of sweat that fell in drops 
of blood from the Saviour's forehead. Three times he came 
back to his disciples, and found them sleeping, not watch- 
ing and praying against temptation. Still he said kindly 
to them, " Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, he 
is at hand that doth betray me." 




CHAPTER VI 



THE CRUCIFIXION. 



CARCELY had Jesus finished speaking 
when he saw Judas coming with a band of 
men, with swords and staves, to take him. 
Judas came up and kissed Jesus, saying, 
" Hail, master ; " and immediately they 
laid hold of Jesus: he had not tried to 
escape. He said, boldly, "1 am Jesus of 
Nazareth ; " and they were so astonished 
at his majesty and gentleness, that some of them fell back- 

22 



OUR saviour's teachings and sufferings. 



319 




PETER SMITES OFF MALCHUS' EAR. 



wai'ds to the ground. One of the disciples drew ix sword 
and smote Malchus, the servant of the high priest, and cut 
off his ear. The kind and gentle Saviour reproved Peter 
for his rashness, and although he knew the man to be his 
bitter enemy, he touched his ear and healed it : and the 



320 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




PETER DENIES CHRIST. 



disciples were so alarmed at the savage multitude that they 
all ran away and left Jesus, who was taken away to Caia- 
phas, the high priest. Peter, however, followed behind, 
trying to hide himself in the crowd. After he was come 
to the palace he was again taxed Avith being a Galilean, and 
Peter began to declare that he knew nothing of Jesus ; but 
while he was speaking the cock crew, and Peter, remem- 
bering the words of his loving master, went out and wept 
bitterly for his ingratitude and his sin. Meantime some 



:^2i 

hilse witnesses, telling the priests that Jesus had spoken 
untruly, and tlie high priest asked Jesus what answer he 
could make. Jesus answered not a word until the higli 
priest said, " Art thou the Christj the Son of God ?" Jesus 
answered, " I am ; and hereafter you shall see me coming 
in the clouds of heaven ; " but the high priest would not 
believe him. He cried out that Jesus was speaking blas- 
phemy, and deserved to be put to death, and the people 
mocked and spat upon him ; but Jesus, our example, bore 
these insults with meekness and patience : he was free from 
sin. But Judas, who had betrayed his Lord to death, 
when he knew that he was condemned, and saw him led 
away bound to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, felt 
very sad and 'miserable. The money gave him no peace : 
it reproached him so that he could not bear to look at or 
keep it. He brought the thirty pieces of silver back to 
the priests, and told them he had betrayed the innocent 
blood, but they felt no pity for him. They said, "See 
thou to that." So in his despair Judas threw down the 
pieces of silver in the temple, and went out and hanged 
himself He did not weep and pray for pardon, as Peter 
had done ; and his soul went to everlasting misery. 

When Jesus was brought before the Roman governor, 
Pilate could find no fault in him, and wished to set him 
free ; but he was afraid of offending the rich Jews, so he 
sent him to Herod, wlio questioned him, mocked and railed 
at Jesus, and sent him back to Pilate. The wife of Pilate 



322 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

had begged her husband not to condemn Jesus; but, 
although he knew him to be guiltless, he only tried to save 
himself from the blame, and he took water and washed his 
hands, saying, " I am innocent of the blood of this just 
man ; see you to it." So the people cried out, " His blood 
be on us, and on our children." So Pilate, who feared man 
more than he feared God, gave the innocent Jesus into the 
hands of his enemies, and set free from prison a wicked 
thief named Barabbas. God did not free Pilate from blame, 
for we hear and read every day that Jesus was crucified, 
and suffered under Pontius Pilate. And the Jews have 
suffered many sorrows for their sins. 

The soldiers then took Jesus, tore off his raiment, and 
put on him a purple robe ; and they platted a crown of 
thorns, and put it upon his head, and made him hold a 
reed in his right hand for a sceptre ; and they mocked him, 
bowdng down before him, saying, " Hail, King of the Jews !" 
Then these cruel men smote him, and spat upon him, and 
insulted him, after which they put on his own raiment 
again, and led him away out of the city to crucify him. 
They made Jesus carry the large wooden cross upon his 
back ; but when he was unable to carry the load any long- 
er, they compelled a man named Simon, whom they met 
on the road, to carry it for him. The women, and many 
people to whom the Saviour had shown kindness, follow- 
ed him in tears ; and Jesus turned, and told them " Not to 
weep for him, but to weep for their own sorrows, and those 



OUR saviour's teachings and sufferings. 



323 



I ! ^ 




JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS. 

27 



OCfA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

of their children." He knew what trouble was coming on 
them. 

At last they came to Mount Calvary, and, on a spot 
called Golgotha, they drove large nails through his hands 
and his feet, and then they set the cross in the ground, and 
let Jesus hang upon it until he died. 

While Jesus hung upon the cross he complained of 
thirst, but instead of giving him the spiced wine usual on 
such occasions, they gave him wine mingled with gall, and 
when Jesus had tasted the bitter cup, he would not drink. 
He was willing to bear all the pain for us, from nine o'clock 
in the morning until three in the afternoon. The soldiers 
took the garments and divided them among them, except 
the vesture, which was woven without a seam, and for this 
they cast lots, fulfilling the prophecy of David, saying, ^'They 
look and stare upon me; they part my garments among 
them, and cast lots upon my vesture." They then sat down 
and watched him, while many wicked men jeered him, say- 
ing, " He saved others, himself he cannot save ; " while the 
gentle Saviour only pitied them, and cried, '* Father, for- 
give them, for they know not what they do." Pilate wrote 
a title in three languages, and placed over the head of 
Jesus, " This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 

Again did he cry out, " I thirst ; " and one of the sol- 
diers gave him a sponge sopped in vinegar, on the top of a 
reed, to suck. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he 
said, -'It is finished;" after which he cried, with a load 



OUR saviour's teachings and sufferings. 



325 



voice, '' Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," and 
he bowed his head and died. 

There was a rich man called Joseph of Arimathea, who 
went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus, so Pilate 
gave him leave to bury the body in his own tomb. So Jo- 
seph and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus down from 
the cross, and wrapped it in linen, with sweet scents and 
spices, and laid it in a new tomb hewn out in a garden, 
followed by the holy Avomen, who had loved and honored 
the Son of God. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. 




^ N the third day, as soon as the morning dawn- 
ed, after keeping holy the Sabbath day, these 
good women came with spices to anoint the 
body of Jesus ; but while they were consider- 
ing how they should roll away the large stone 
that had been sealed over the door of the 
tomb, they saw that the stone was gone. 
Yes ! The angel of the Lord had I'olled away 
the stone, and the grave had given up its dead. 
Jesus was alive again, and an angel sat upon 
the stone, whose face shone like lightning, and his raiment 
was white as snow. Mary Magdalen left the other two 



?9 



326 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE RESURRECTION, 

women while she ran back to tell the disciples that theii 
Lord was risen, and the angel told the other women to gc 
likewise and teU Peter and his disciples that Jesus was 
gone to Galilee. 

You see Peter's sin had been forgiven, because he re- 
pented; and when he heard from Mary Magdalen that 
Jesus was not in the tomb, both he and John ran to the 
sepulchre, and saw the linen clothes lying empty, and then 
they believed that Jesus had risen again, so they went 
away, but Mary remained near the tomb weeping. Two 



30 



OUR SAVIOUR'S TEACHINGS AND SUFFERINGS. 09^7 

angels clothed in white were sitting in the sepulchre, and 
they said to Mary, ''Why weepest thou?" She answered, 
" Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not 
where they have laid him." And as she turned round some 
one asked her the same question, " Why weepest thou?" 
Mary did not know that it was Jesus when she saw him, 
but she said, ''Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me 
where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus 
saith unto her, " Mary ! " She who so loved her Saviour 
knew his voice at once, and in tones of joy she answered, 
" Master ;" She would have embraced his feet, but Jesus 
forbade her, and desired her to go and tell his brethren, 
saying, " I ascend to my Father, and to your Father ; to 
my God, and to your God." Jesus afterwards appeared to 
the other two Avom^n, who fell down and worshipped him. 
The same evening he appeared to all his disciples, who were 
assembled together to prayer, and said unto them, "Peace 
be unto you ;" and, having showed them the scars in his 
hands and his side, he breathed on them, and said. *' Re- 
ceive ye the Holy Ghost." Thomas, one of his discipleg 
who was not present, refused to credit the glad tidings ; 
but Jesus afterwards appeared to them again, and convinc- 
ed Thomas that he was the risen Lord. 

He appeared to other disciples and followers until forty 
days after his resurrection, and then he led them out once 
more to the village of Bethany, and promised them the 
gift of the Holy Ghost, and, having desired them to preach 



328 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




! I 



CHRIST APPEARING TO HIS DISCIPLES. 



the gospel througli the world, he was suddenly taken up 
out of their sight, and ascended up into heaven, where He 
has promised to prepare a place for all who love and be- 
lieve in Him. May our sins be washed away by his blood, 
and may we be ready to reign with him hereafter in glory ! 



329 




ains bit| t|e ^ible. 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES 



CHxVPTER I. 




OF THE DISCIPLES— ESPECIALLY THOMAS. 

OU do not require me to remind you, my 
dear little readers, that you have a dear 
Friend who loves and watches over you at 
all times, whether rich or poor ; He is always 
at hand to help you, and He loves you more 
dearly than the kindest father. This Friend 
is Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven, 
and took upon him the form of a poor little 
helpless baby ; who grew up to be a man, and taught us 
how to live, and to obey our Father in heaven, that we 
may go to be with Him when we die. You often say that 
" Christ was crucified for us, and He rose again from the 
dead ;" and you read that He appeared to His disciples and 
many others before He ascended into heaven. His disci- 



ooA HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

pies were twelve poor men, whom He had chosen to be His 
friends, and to go about with Him and hear His teachings, 
and see His wonderful works that He performed, that 
they might be able to bear witness of the truth of His 
saying, and to teach others after He had gone back to heav- 
en. One of these disciples, however, named Thomas, could 
not believe that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples 
in his absence ; he could not understand, although he had 
seen our Saviour restore others to life, that Jesus should be 
alive again. With two of his disciples, he had taken a 
long walk, explaining to them the meaning of many won- 
ders, which they had not before understood ; and when 
they arrived at a place called Emmaus, He had sat down 
with them to supper ; but they knew not who it was that 
talked with them until Jesus took the bread, and brake it, 
and blessed it. Then their eyes were opened, and they 
knew their Lord again. But Thomas could not believe these 
things. He said, " Except I put my finger into the print of 
the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not be- 
lieve." Now Jesus loved Thomas in spite of his unbelief; 
so He came again when the disciples were all met together 
for prayer, and He stood in the midst, although the doors 
were close shut, and said, " Peace be unto you." Then he 
repeated the very words of Thomas, saying, " Keach hither 
thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy 
hand, and thrust it into my side ; and be not faithless, but 
believing." And the humbled and believing Thomas an- 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



331 




THE UNBELIEF OF THOMAS. 



swered, " My Lord and my God." You., my little children, 
cannot in this world see Jesus; but you may believe that 
He is also your Lord and your God ; and you must love 
Him and believe in the Son of God, *' that believing, ye 
might have life through His name." Thomas did this after- 
wards. He is said to have travelled through Persia and 
India, preaching about Christ ; and there he was, many 
years after, put to death by the idolatrous priests. Jesus 
then appeared to some of his disciples, who had been all 
night fishing, without being able to catch anything. The 

3 



09 HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

disciples did not know their Lord until He bade them " cast 
their net on the right side of the ship," which instantly 
became filled with a hundred and fifty -three large fishes. 
He then fed them with some of the fishes, which they broil- 
ed over a fire, and with bread ; and having dined, Jesus gave 
them good counsel, and prophesied unto them, until they 
were fully convinced that Jesus was indeed the very Christ 
who had been raised up on the cross for them. A few days 
after, when they were all assembled with Him, a short dis- 
tance from Jerusalem, He ascended up into heaven, and a 
cloud received Him out of their sight. And they all re- 
turned to Jerusalem, where they appointed a new disciple 
in the place of Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Christ, 
and afterwards hanged himself, in despair for what he had 
done. On the day of Pentecost, one of the feasts of the 
Jews, these disciples were all gathered together for prayer, 
when suddenly there came a wondrous sound, like a rush- 
ing mighty wind, that filled the house; and tongues of fire 
appeared to rest upon the head of each of them, and they 
were enabled, by the mighty power of God, to speak and 
preach in different tongues and languages, such as they 
had never heard or understood before. 

All the Jews who saw and heard this wonderful mira- 
cle were astonished ; but Peter stood up boldly, and preach- 
ed to them of Jesus, until many of them repented, and 
were baptized by the disciples, and were received as mem- 
bers of the Church of Christ. 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



333 




CHAPTER II. 

OF PETER AND JOHN. — ANANIAS AND SAPPHTRA. 



ETER and John went one day into the Tem- 
ple to pray. At the entrance-gate, called 
" Beautiful," lay a poor lame man, who had 
only the charity of those Avho entered the 
gate to subsist upon. He had been carried 
there as usual, and began to ask alms of Peter 
and John. These disciples were themselves 
qJ poor, but they had something better than 
money to bestow. So Peter said to the poor cripple, " Look 
on us ; " and as he gazed earnestly on them, Peter said, 
" Silver and gold have I none ; but such as I have give I 
thee." And taking him by the hand, he lifted him up, 
saying, " In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk." 
And instantly strength was restoi'ed to his ancle bones ; he 
stood, and walked, and entered the Temple of God, leap- 
ing, walking, and praising Him. And all who saw this 
miracle were astonished. But Peter explained to them 
that not by their ow^n power or holiness had they given 
the lame man ability to walk, but that God had done this 
miracle by His own power and mercy ; and he preached 
to them of Christ crucified, and touched their hearts ; so 
that al)out five thousand niore were added to the Church, 
The Sadducees, and the high priest and others, being griev- 



334 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




PETER HEALING THE LAME MAN. 



ed that the disciples taught the people, had Peter and John 
brought before them, and questioned them ; but not being 
able to punish them, they commanded them not to teach 
in the name of Jesus. But Peter prayed to God so earnest- 
ly that God would give them boldness and grace to preach 
and perform miracles in His name, that the place they were 
in was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy 
Ghost, and most of those preseut were convinced of the 
truth of their preaching ; and they sold their houses and 
lands, and gave the money for the use of the disciples. 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



335 



And now comes a sad story. A man named Ananias, 
who wished to apjiear as good and noble as the rest, went 
and sold a piece of land ; and keeping back a part of the 
money, he took the remainder, and laid it at the apostles' 
feet. Now God had given His disciples power to understand 
many hidden things, as well as to speak in foreign tongues ; 
and Peter knew quite well what Ananias had done, so 
he said unto him, " Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine 
heai't to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back part of the 
pi'ice of the land ? Thou hast not lied unto men, but uato 
God." And as Peter said these words, Ananias fell down 
dead at his feet, and some young men carried out the body, 
and buried it. 

His wife Sapphira knew quite well what had been done 
with the money, and she soon after came into the presence 
of the apostles, not knowing of her husband's death, and 
Peter asked her, saying : — " Tell me, did you sell the land 
for so much?" and she answered, "Yea, for so much." 

But Peter said, " How is it that ye have agreed togeth- 
er to tempt the Spirit of the Lord ? Behold the feet of 
them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and 
shall carry thee out." Then Sapphira also fell down, and 
died instantly, and they carried her out, and buried her be- 
side the body of her husband ; but their souls were gone : 
not up to heaven to be with Jesus, but to Satan, who is 
the father of lies, and who had tempted them to lie. All 
who saw these things were in great fear ; and many believed. 



336 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER III 



THE FIRST MARTYR. 



*HE word martyr signifies a person who dies in 
defence of his religion, and many of the first 
followers of the Lord were martyred, or put 
to death, for loving Jesus, and teaching in his 
name. The disciples had chosen, from among 
the many newly converted Christians, seven 
holy and wise men, who were called deacons, 
to assist them in visiting the sick, and giving 
alms to the needy ; and one among them, named Stephen, 
did many miracles and wonders; for God had sent the 
Holy Spirit into his heart, and the poor loved Stephen. 
But the powerful enemies of Christ rose up against Stephen, 
and accused him of preaching things contrary to their law. 
When Stephen stood up to defend himself, he looked so calm 
and holy, that his face appeared like " the face of an angel." 
He told them all the thinsfs that had been foretold of Jesus 
by Moses and the prophets ; and that destruction would 
come upon those who rejected and denied their Saviour, 
and put him to death. His enemies, the greatest of whom 
was a young man, named Smd (who afterwards became a 
Christian himself), grew so angry, that he bade the people 
cast great stones at him to kill him. Even in his sufi^er- 
ings, the good and gentle Stephen prayed for his murder- 
ers, following the example of our blessed Saviour. Stephen 



THE STOEY OP THE APOSTLES. 



337 




THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN. 

prayed, looking up to heaven, "Lord Jesus, receive my 
spirit;" and kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, 
" Lord, lay not this sin to their charge ! " 

Stephen died peacefully, very. His friends buried him 
wnth great mourning; Lut Saul and his enemies treated 
them so cruelly that they were all obliged to separate, and 
leave Jerusalem. 



338 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE SIN OF SIMON THE SORCERER. 



Philip went to Samaria. Many of the Samaritans were 
converted, and one of them, a sorcerer, also joined himself 
with the believers and was baptized. Simon wished to 
work miracles ; he offered money to the disciples, that they 
might give him the Holy Ghost, and enable him to bestow 
it on others. Peter, however, reproved him sharply, say- 
ing, *'Thy money perish with thee, Simon, because thou 
hast thought the gift of God can be bought with money." 

In a distant country called Ethiopia, lived the officer of 



10 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES, 



339 




PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH. 



a great queen, named Canclace ; and this eunuch, or officer, 
was returning from Jerusalem in his chariot, reading very 
attentively the prophecies of Isaiah. And God sent Philip 
to the side of the chariot, and he asked the officer if he 
understood the meaning of the words he was reading ? The 
eunuch answered, "That he required some one to explain 
it to him," and Philip, getting into the chariot, taught the 
officer about Jesus : and the eunuch understood and be- 
lieved ; and when they came to some water Philip baptized 
him. 



11 



340 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



C HAPTER lY 




DORCAS. 

EFORE I tell you anything more about Saul, 
afterwards called Paul, I will mention the 
miracles and acts of Peter. He went to a 
place called Lydda, whei'e he cured a sick 
man, named Eneas, who had been ill for eight 
years ; then he went to Joppa, where a very 
good woman lived, whose name was Tabitha, 
or Dorcas ; she spent all her time in visiting 
and working for the poor and the needy, until at last she 
fell sick and died : and all the poor people in Joppa were 
grieved at her death. 

When Peter heard this he went directly to the house, 
where the friends of Dorcas were weeping over her dead 
body. And the poor widows were showing each other the 
coats and garments Dorcas had made for them. So Peter 
sent them all away, and prayed to God that he would res- 
tore Dorcas to life again. He took her by the hand, and 
said, "Tabitha arise;" and God answered the prayer of 
Peter, for she opened her eyes and sat up, and Peter res- 
tored her to her friends, alive and well, because God loved 
Dorcas, for her charity and kindness to the poor. 

Herod, the wicked king of Judea — having put to death 
with the sword James, the brother of John — heard soon 

V2 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



341 




THK RAISING OF DORCAS. 



after that Peter was come to Jerusalem ; so he caught him 
and put him in prison, with a number of soldiers to guard 
him safely. But God heard the prayers of his people, and 
did not suffer Peter to be killed just then. The night be- 
fore he was to be tried, Peter lay sleeping in the prison, 
bound with two strong chains, and soldiers guarding the 
door, suddenly a light shone in the prison, and an angel 
bade him " Arise up quickly. Gird thyself (which meant 
dress thyself), and follow me." Peter's chains fell off, and 
he rose up, and put on his garments, and followed the angel, 



342 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON. 

believing that it was a vision. They passed through the 
doors until they came to the iron gate that led into the 
city ; and the gate opened of its own accord, and Peter and 
the angel passed through, and down one street, and then 
the angel disappeared. Peter soon came to himself, and 
said, " Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his 
angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod ; " 
and after a little thought he walked straight to the house 
of Mary, the mother of Mark, at whose house were assem- 

14 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



343 



bled several Christians, who 



were mourning 



and 



praying 



for Peter. First they feared that Herod had put him to 
death, and that his spirit had appeared to them ; but, when 
the knocking continued, they joyfully admitted Peter, and 
listened to all that God had done to deliver him. Peter 
then bade them " Go and tell the good news to the breth- 
ren ; " and he departed to another place. Herod and the 
Jews were very wroth when they found Peter had escaped, 
and Herod cruelly put the keepers of the prison to death ; 
but God punished Herod for his wickedness. One day he 
sat on the throne, dressed in his robes, and made a fine 
speech; but God struck him with a fearful illness, and he 
soon after died a very miserable death : and Peter, after 
preaching many years, was crucified, as Jesus had foretold. 



CHAPTER V. 



c/TT^^ 




THE STORY OF PAUL. 

HERE was a rich and clever young Jew of 
Tarsus, who studied the law at Jerusalem, 
under Gamaliel, and he became very learned, 
and was very strict in keeping the laws of 
Moses, and thought himself very righteous. 
So when he first heard of Jesus and his fol- 
lowers, he despised and rejected 'Him, and 
persecuted every one who loved and believed 

15 



344 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




THE CONVERSION OF SAUL. 



iu the Saviour. He went to Damascus, to hunt out the 
Christians there, and put them to death. But God in his 
mercy had other work for Saul ; so God met him on his 
journey. On a sudden a great light shone from heaven, 
and Saul fell to the ground. He heard a voice crying, 
" Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? " And Saul said, 
*' Who art thou ? " And the Lord said, '' I am Jesus, whom 
thou persecutest." 

Saul, trembling and astonished, asked, " Lord, what 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



345 



wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said unto him, 
" Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what 
thou must do." Blinded, dazzled, and astonished, Saul arose 
from the earth, and was obliged to be led by those who 
journeyed with him, and who were also dismayed at hear- 
ing the voice when no person was visible ; and they brought 
Saul to Damascus, where he continued three days, without 
sight and without food. Then a certain good man, named 
Ananias, to whom the Lord appeared in a vision, and gave 
him instructions what to do, came in search of Saul. Ana- 
nias entered into the house, and, putting his hands upon 
him, said, '' Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appear- 
ed to thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that 
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy 
Ghost." And Saul received his sight instantly, and arose 
and was baptized, and partook of some food, and continued 
some days with the disciples at Damascus, where he boldly 
preached Christ in their synagogues, to the astonishment 
of all those who heard the late persecutor of Christ's fol- 
lowers telling that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Saul 
was persecuted in his turn by the Jews ; and the disciples, 
in order to save his life, were obliged to drop him over the 
wall of the city in a basket. So Saul escaped to Jerusalem ; 
but the disciples were at first afraid to receive him, until 
Barnabas took him by the hand, and immediately Saul dis- 
puted with the Grecians, and boldly and openly taught 
that Jesus was the Saviour of the world. 




o i f. HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

346 

CHAPTER VI. 

ELYMAS THE SORCERER. 

AUL, who was now called Paul, went to 
Tarsus, where he remained until Barna- 
bas joined him, and took him away to 
Antioch, where they both boldly preach- 
ed the name of Jesus Christ: and heo-e 
it was that the followers of our Lord 
were first called Christians, which means 
a servant or follower of Christ. I hope 
none of my little readers are ashamed of this name, but 
that they really and truly mean to be Christians, as Paul 
was. The disciples at Antioch sent money, by the hands 
of Paul and Barnabas, to the poor Christians at Jerusalem, 
who, when they finished their work, returned again to Anti- 
och, and from thence the Holy Spirit sent them to preach 
at other places. At Paj)hos, in the Isle of Cyprus, they 
found a governor, named Sergius Paulus, who wished to be 
good and wise, and he listened to the preaching of the dis- 
ciples ; but there was also a very wicked man, called Ely- 
mas, who hated the truth, and wished to prevent others 
from hearing it. Then Paul, looking earnestly on him, said 
to Elymas, " Thou child of the devil, behold the hand of 
the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing 
the sun for a season." And his sight was gone immediate- 
ly, so that he was obliged to be led by the hand ; and all 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



347 




THE SACRIFICE AT LYSTRA. 

who saw this miracle were astonished, and many believed 
on the Lord Jesus ; but in some places they were driven 
out, fearing they might be stoned to death. At Lystra, 
Paul had mercy upon a poor cripple and healed him, which, 
when the people beheld the lame man walking and leaping, 
they brought oxen decked with garlands to sacrifice unto the 
disciples, believing that they were gods. Paul and Barna- 
bas, however, rent their clothes, and ran among the people, 
crying, '' Sirs, we are but men of like passions with your- 

19 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 
348 

selves, who seek to turn you from the vanities of earth to 
serve the living God," but with great difficulty they kept 
the people from offering sacrifices unto them. Meanwhile, 
some of the Jews, their enemies, came from Antioch, and 
persuaded the people that they were wicked men, and they 
stoned Paul, and then dragged him out of the city, suppos- 
ing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood mourning 
around him, God gave Paul strength, and he arose and went 
back into the city. 

The vision of a man from Macedonia seemed to cry unto 
Paul, saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us."" 
So Paul answered this appeal by starting at once to Philip- 
pi, where he began to teach and to preach, and he accosted 
the women who resorted to the side of the river, where they 
sometimes met for prayer. And God touched the heart of 
Lydia, a seller of the fine purple linen of those days, and 
made her attend to the words of Paul ; so she became a 
Christian and was baptized, and all her household ; and she 
invited the disciples to lodge at her house, which they did 
for a season, but again the Lord suffered them to be perse- 
cuted for His name's sake. 

So the multitude rose up against the disciples, and the 
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded that they 
should be beaten. And having beaten them very cruelly, 
they cast them into the prison, desiring the jailor to keep 
them safely. This man was cruel and hard-hearted, so he 
put them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



349 



the stockg, so they could not move. But although they 
were chained and unable to help themselves, they were still 
able to call upon God, for whose sake they had borne all 
this suffering. They were in too much pain to sleep ; they 
could not lie down ; but they could still pray to God and 
praise him ; so they sang praises to God at midnight, and 
their hymns of praises were heard by the other prisoners, 
when all on a sudden the whole prison was shaken by a 
great earthquake, so that all the doors which had been fast 
bolted flew open, and the chains fell off from the prisoners. 
The keeper of the prison, being startled out of his sleep, 
and seeing all the doors open, w^as in a great fright, fearing 
the prisoners had escaped ; he knew that he would be very 
severely punished if such were the case, and he got a sword 
and was going to kill himself at once. But Paul, who, by 
the Spirit of God, knew all things, cried out to him in the 
dark, '' Do thyself no harm, for w^e are all here." Then the 
jailor, knowing that this was the work of God, called for a 
light, and sprang in trembling, and fell down before Paul 
and Silas. Then he brought them out, and said, "Sirs 
what must I do to be saved ? " 

And they said, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
thou shalt be saved, and thy house." And they spake to 
him, and to all his household, the words and works of the 
Lord. 

Then was the jailor sorry for his cruelty to his prison- 
ers ; so he took them the same hour of the night, and he 



350 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 



bathed the wounds that had been made upon them when 
they were beaten ; and behaved kindly to them ; and he 
was baptized, he and all his family, and he brought the 
disciples into his own house, and set meat before them, and 
rejoiced in the Lord, in whom he believed. See how easy 
it is for the love of God to change the heart. A few hours 
before, this jailor hated Paul, and did everything to hurt 
and grieve him ; but now he was gentle, and sorry for his 
unkindness, and anxious to do everything to please God. 
He had found out the only way to be saved is to believe 
in the Lord Jesus Christ. The earthquake had frightened 
others besides the jailor and the prisonei's ; the magistrates 
were frightened ; they wanted to get rid of these strangers, 
so in the morning they sent to the jailor desiring him to let 
them go. Then the keeper of the prison came at once to 
Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; 
now therefore depart, and go in peace." But Paul said 
unto them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, 
being Romans, and have cast us into prison ; and now do 
they thrust us out privily ? nay, verily, but let them come 
themselves and fetch us out." The magistrates were in 
great fear when they heard that they were Romans v/hom 
they had beaten so unceremoniously, so they came to the 
prison, and besought them and brought them out, and beg- 
ged them also to leave the city, which, after visiting the 
house of Lydia, and comforting the brethren, they did, pass 
ing through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica ; and 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



351 




PAUL PREACHING TO HIS FRIENDS. 



there the preaching of Paul for three Sabbath-days added 
many to the Church. Paul was obliged to depart into 
Athens, where his heart was grieved at the idolatry of the 
people, and he commenced at once teaching and preaching 
the name of Jesus. So they brought Paul before the court 
of philosophers, or wise men, and asked him what these 
things meant, and Paul told them that the ''unknown God" 
to whom they had built an altar was Lord of heaven and 
earth, and he told them that Jesus would come to judge them. 






HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER VII 



THE DEEDS OF ST. PAUL. 



HERE was a Jew named Aquila, Avho, with his 
wife Priscilla, had been banished from Eome 
because they were Christians, and they had 
gone to live at Corinth, whither Paul jour- 
neyed, and on his arrival at their city they 
received Paul very kindly ; and as they had all 
to work for their daily bread, Paul lived with 
them, and worked at tent-making. There 
was one season of the year when the Jews all left their 
houses and dwelt under a tent, and they call this the feast 
of tabernacles ; and Paul made tents for the Jews on the 
week days, but on the Sabbath-days and at other seasons 
he preached in their synagogues, and instructed both Jews 
and Greeks. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and many 
others, became followers of Christ; but Paul had also his 
enemies. God, however, comforted Paul by a vision, bid- 
ding him ^' not be afraid, but to speak boldly." And when 
they brought him before Gallio, the Roman governor, he 
could see that they had a spite against Paul, and Gallio 
would not listen to them or punish Paul. During his stay 
at Corinth, Paul wrote several letters or epistles to the dif- 
ferent churches, and he afterwards wrote to the Corinthi- 
ans, for he loved them very much, At Ephesus, Paul part- 
ed from his fi'iends Priscilla and x^quila, and during his 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



353 



absence a young Jew, named Apollos, learned a great many 
good tilings from tliem ; and lie, being a true Christian, 
was very thankful for their instructions, and he soon became 
a very useful pi'eacher, and went away, like St. Paul, to 
teach those who knew not Christ. After the return of 
Paul to Ephesus, some of the unbelieving Jews pretended 
to heal diseases and work miracles, like that apostle ; and 
they pretended to cure one man who had an evil spirit, but 
the man ci-ied out, " Who are ye ? Jesus I knoW; and Paul 
I know, but who are ye ? " He knew tliat they were not 
holy men and followers of Christ, so he rushed upon them, 
and wounded them, so that they were glad to escape with 
their lives. And this so much terrified those who had done 
the like, that they came to Paul and burnt all their wicked 
books, and no more pretended to work magic and sorcery. 
But in a short time so many of the people became Chris- 
tians, that the silversmiths who made little images of Diana, 
whom they called their goddess, had no sale for their ima- 
ges, because the people worshipped Jesus instead of Diana. 
Wherefore one of these smiths, named Demetrius, made a 
great uproar in the city against Paul, and a great crowd of 
people ran about, crying, " Great is Diana of the Ephe- 
sians ! " And they tried to get hold of Paul, until the town 
clerk came out and addressed the people, advising them to 
be quiet, and to let Demetrius carry the matter to the law. 
At length the people dispersed, and Paul took leave of his 
friends, and once more went forth on his mission. One 



354 H^L^ HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

evening, when a company of Christians were gathered to- 
gether at Troas to hear Paul, there sat beside one of the 
high windows a young man, named Eutychus, listening to 
his discourse ; but Paul (being anxious to say a great deal 
in the short time he was with them) preached till past mid- 
night, and Eutychus, falling asleep, overbalanced himself, 
and fell down, being picked up for dead. This caused much 
sorrow and dismay among the disciples; but Paul said, 
^'Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him," and he em- 
braced Eutychus, and brought him alive again, to the joy 
and comfort of all ; and when he had given them the sacra- 
ment, Paul took leave of them, and went away at day-break 
to Miletus, where he appointed to meet some of the disci- 
ples on his way to Jerusalem. And after warning them 
and praying w^ith them, he bade them farewell ; but they 
all wept sore, and clung about him, and kissed Pa*ul and 
Silas, and went with them even to the ship, for they were 
grieved at their departure. 

At Cesarea Paul dwelt in the house of Philip the evan- 
gelist, who had four daughters who did prophesy. And a 
prophet named Agabus came thither, and binding his hands 
and feet with Paul's girdle, foretold what should happen to 
him at Jerusalem ; wherefore his friends wept and tried to 
persuade Paul not to go there. But Paul would not be 
turned from his duty. He went, but he had no sooner be- 
gan his mission than the unbelievers drew Paul out of the 
Temple and tried to kill him, and they beat and ill-treated 



THE STORY OP THE APOSTLES. 



355 




DEPARTURE OF PAUL FOR JERUSALEM. 



him, as they had done our Saviour. At length the chief 
captain got him safely to the castle, and then, having per- 
mission to speak, Paul told them all his history. The Jews 
heard him for some time patiently ; but when he began to 
tell of Jesus, they would not listen, and again began beat- 
ing Paul, until they found he was a Koman ; and then he 
was ordered to appear before the council, w^here he defend- 
ed himself Ananias, the hight priest, commanded them to 
smite him on the mouth. Paul cried out to Ananias, " God 
shall smite thee," for breaking the law, while pretending 
to judge according to the law. 27 



356 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 




CHAPTER VIII. 



FESTUS AND PAUL. 



ESTUS, the new goyernor, having heard about 
Paul from the Jews, commanded the prisoner 
to be brought before him. Paul again answer- 
ed for himself that "he had done nothing 
contrary to the Jewish law, and that having 
been unjustly imprisoned for two years, he 
would now be judged by Csesar, the Roman 
Emperor, being himself a Koman." Festus said, 
" Hast thou appealed unto Caesar ? unto Caesar shalt thou 
go." But after some days King Agrippa, with his sister 
Bernice, came to Cesarea to see Festus, and Festus having 
told Agrippa a great deal about Paul, they became very 
anxious to see him ; so the next day, when all the nobles 
and captains were assembled in the place of hearing, Paul 
was brought before them. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 
"Thou art permitted to speak for thyself" Paul was 
always glad to have the chance of telling what Jesus had 
done for him, so he told them his whole story ; how, from 
being a persecutor, God had called him to bear witness of 
the Lord Jesus, of whom Moses prophesied, who had suffer- 
ed and risen again from the dead. When he heard this, 
Festus cried out, "Paul, thou art beside thyself: much 
learning doth make thee mad." But Paul answered calmly 
that his words were "words of soberness and truth;" and 



THE STOKY OP THE APOSTLES. 



357 




PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA. 



he turned to the king and said, " King Agrippa, thou know- 
est these things. Belie vest thou the prophets ? I know 
that thou believest." And Agrippa felt the power of Paul's 
words, for he answered, " Ahnost thou persuadest me to be 
a Christian ! '' And Paul said, " I would to God that all 
who hear me this day were as I am, except these bonds." 
So the king and all rose up, and decided that Paul had 
done nothing wrong; but that, as he had appealed to the 
Emperor, he must be sent to Eome. So Paul and some 



HALF HOURS WITH THE BIBLE. 

358 

other prisoners were sent in a ship under the care of a cen^ 
turion. When they had got part of the way, Paul, finding 
it very stormy, tried to persuade the captain to stay there 
for the winter ; but no one would listen to Paul, and in a 
few days a great wind arose and wrecked the ship. But 
the Lord comforted Paul, and he stood up and bade his 
companions " fear not, for the angel stood by me this night, 
and hath given me the lives of all who sail with me ; nev- 
ertheless we must be cast on a certain island." All that 
Paul said came true ; the ship was driven on the rocks at 
Melita, and all broken to pieces ; but some of them man- 
aged to swim ashore, others in boats or on planks and 
fragments of the ship ; all got safely to land. 

The island of Melita, now called Malta, was inhabited 
by heathens ; but although ignorant, they were very kind 
to Paul and his shipwrecked companions, and they lighted a 
fire of sticks to warm them, for it was very cold, rainy weath- 
er. Paul gathered some sticks together and threw on the 
fire, and a viper, which had been concealed among them, 
sprang up, and fastened on his hand. The people knew 
that the bite of the viper was poisonous, and expected to 
see Paul fall down dead, but God did not permit him to be 
hurt ; he shook the viper off into the fire, and felt no harm. 
The people thought he must be a god, when they saw this 
miracle ; but Paul soon taught them about Jesus, and he 
cured the father of Publius, one of the chief men of the 
island, who was sick of a fever. 

30 



THE STORY OF THE APOSTLES. 



859 




PAUL AT MELITA. 

Three months after this Paul left Melita, and sailed in 
another ship to Rome, where he was kindly received, and 
allowed to live in a house by himself, where many Jews 
were converted. Here he wrote most of his epistles, and a 
few years after he was put to death for the love of his 
Saviour, with whom he now lives in heaven, where Christ 
is gone to prepare a place for those who believe in his 
name. 

Most of the disciples suffered also in the service of their 
Divine Master. The apostle who lived longest was John, 



31 



360 



THE STORY OP THE APOSTLES. 



the disciple whom Jesus loved, and to whose care he had 
given his mother, when dying on the cross. After being 
cruelly persecuted, he was banished to an island in the sea 
called Patmos, where he lived in a cave or grotto, which is 
still shown to visitors as the place where he wrote his Epis- 
tle to the Seven Churches, his three Epistles, and a won- 
derful book called the Revelation, because it is the history 
of things which were revealed to him by the Holy Spirit in 
a vision. One in the form of the Saviour appeared there to 
comfort him, and he told John what to write to the Seven 
Churches, which have now most of them passed away. 
John saw, in his vision, the Lord sitting on his throne with 
a rainbow round his head, and in the midst of the throne 
was a Lamb as it had been slain — the Lamb of God, that 
taketh away the sins of the world — and all round the throne 
were the redeemed and happy people, clothed in white and 
with golden crowns upon their heads. John afterwards left 
Patmos, and died at Ephesus, a very old man. In his epis- 
tles he begs all little children '' to love one another," and 
as long as he lived he tried to teach others the way to heav- 
en. And I trust all those who may read these " Half-hours 
with the Bible" may one day join that glorious throng, 
and sing with them that holy song, saying, " Amen. Bless- 
ing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, 
and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. 
Amen." 



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